Protein Z gene polymorphisms, protein Z concentrations, and ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We aimed to determine whether A-13G or G79A polymorphisms of the protein Z gene that have been reported to be an important determinant of blood concentrations of protein Z are associated with risk of ischemic stroke in a broad range of stroke patients and controls. METHODS: We conducted a case control study of 151 hospital cases of first-ever ischemic stroke and 164 randomly selected community controls. Protein Z genotype was determined for the A-13G promoter polymorphism and the G79A intron F polymorphism, and plasma protein Z concentrations were measured during the first 7 days and at 3 to 6 months after the acute stroke event. RESULTS: Geometric mean concentrations of protein Z measured within 7 days of acute stroke were significantly higher in cases compared with controls (1.51 microg/mL versus 1.13 microg/mL; P<0.0001). Protein Z concentrations were highest among subjects with the A-13G AA genotype, intermediate among those with the AG genotype, and lowest among those with the GG genotype (1.39 microg/mL versus 1.05 microg/mL versus 0.76 microg/mL; P<0.0001); and highest among those with the G79A GG genotype, intermediate among those with the GA genotype, and lowest among those with the AA genotype (1.47 microg/mL versus 1.13 microg/mL versus 0.66 microg/mL; P<0.0001). The prevalence of A-13G and G79A genotypes was not significantly different between cases of ischemic stroke and controls. However, compared with the G79A GG genotype (reference), the odds of ischemic stroke was progressively lower for the heterozygote GA (odds ratio [OR], 0.83; 95% CI, 0.52 to 1.33) and the homozygote AA genotype (OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.20 to 1.98). A pooled analysis showed that compared with the G79A GG genotype (reference), the odds of ischemic stroke was progressively lower for the heterozygote GA (OR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.57 to 1.07) and the homozygote AA genotype (OR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.14 to 0.69). CONCLUSIONS: The consistency of the association between protein Z genotypes, blood concentrations of protein Z, and ischemic stroke, determined using 2 different methods that have different sources of bias strengthens the evidence that increased blood concentrations of protein Z concentrations are associated causally with an increased risk of ischemic stroke.