Polymorphisms in the factor VII gene and ischemic stroke in young adults

Polymorphic configurations of the coagulation factor VII gene (F7) are associated with plasma levels of FVII antigen (FVII:Ag) and FVII coagulant activity (FVII:C). Our aim was to determine whether F7 polymorphisms influence risk of ischemic stroke in young adults. One hundred and fifty survivors of ischemic stroke before the age of 45 and an equal number of age and sex-matched controls were genotyped for five F7 polymorphisms: the -A670C transversion, -323 decanucleotide insertion (P + 10), the number (which varies between five and eight) of a 37 base pair repeat polymorphisms in intron 7 (IVS7), amino acid substitution R353Q, and +154AA insertion. 353Q, P + 10 and +154AA were demonstrated to associate with significantly decreased plasma FVII:Ag, whereas -670C and IVS7 seven or higher were associated with a tendency towards increased plasma FVII:Ag. The former three polymorphisms were significantly more common in control individuals than in patients, whereas the latter two were significantly more common in patients than in control individuals. The multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that two F7 polymorphisms, -670C and IVS7 seven or higher, are independent risk factors for ischemic stroke in young adult patients.