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Background: Subjects with stroke in a first-degree relative are at increased risk of atherothrombotic vascular disease. We aimed to examine atherothrombotic risk factors in such a population., Methods: 145 subjects with a first-degree relative with stroke and 143 controls were recruited. Measurements were made of features of the insulin resistance syndrome, haemostatic and fibrinolytic risk factors, and glucose tolerance tests., Results: The relatives had higher systolic blood pressure, HDL, 2-hour glucose, factor VII:C, fibrinogen, vWF and more had smoked. Differences remained in factor VII:C, systolic BP and 2-hour glucose after adjustment., Conclusions: This population demonstrates adverse thrombotic risk factors and increased FVII:C activity may contribute to increased cardiovascular risk., (Copyright 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel)

To investigate the relationship of circulating plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) levels with features of insulin resistance and genotype at a single nucleotide insertion/deletion (4G/5G) polymorphism in the promoter region of the PAI-1 gene in 101 South Asian ischaemic stroke patients and 102 symptom-free reference subjects. The allele frequencies were 4G-0.51, 5G-0.49 and 4G-0.61, 5G-0.39 in patients and reference subjects, respectively. There was a significant association between PAI-1 promoter genotype and PAI-1 antigen levels in patients. Regression analysis with significant correlates in the model demonstrated age, gender and triglycerides in patients and fasting insulin and HDL cholesterol in reference subjects as independent predictors of PAI-1 antigen., (Copyright 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel)