Abstract | BACKGROUND: METHODS: In patients with cerebral ischemia without prior CVD (n = 225), DNA analysis of the Cx40 minor allele (-44 G-->A) was performed. Patients were divided into those with a normal electrocardiographic (ECG) findings (group A, n = 164), with ECG abnormalities (group B, n = 51) and those with normal ECG and documented episodes of AF (group C, n = 10). On the basis of echocardiography (ECHO) data availability, further subgroups were defined: normal ECG and ECHO (group D, n = 45); ECG or ECHO abnormalities (group E, n = 22); and normal ECG and ECHO and documented AF episodes (group F, n = 8). The prevalence of Cx40 promotor polymorphism was compared among all the subgroups. RESULTS: The average age was 58.7 years (+/-11.5) and 64.4% were men. Patients with episodes of AF and those with abnormal ECG or ECHO results (B+C or E+F) did not show a higher prevalence of the minor allele genotype (AA vs. GG) compared with the normal ECG/ECHO groups (A or D) (group A, odds ratio = 1.04, 95% confidence interval: 0.26-4.11 and group D, odds ratio = 0.38, 95% confidence interval: 0.04-3.63). CONCLUSION: In patients with cerebral ischemic events, without prior CVD, a higher prevalence of the Cx40 gene polymorphism, as a marker of underlying idiopathic AF appeared to be absent.
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Authors | Sevasti-Maria Chaldoupi, Sabita S Soedamah-Muthu, Jakub Regieli, Christian van de Werf, Marcel Nelen, Jasper J van der Smagt, Ale Algra, Richard N W Hauer, Pieter A Doevendans, Peter Loh |
Journal | European journal of cardiovascular prevention and rehabilitation : official journal of the European Society of Cardiology, Working Groups on Epidemiology & Prevention and Cardiac Rehabilitation and Exercise Physiology
(Eur J Cardiovasc Prev Rehabil)
Vol. 16
Issue 5
Pg. 616-20
(Oct 2009)
ISSN: 1741-8275 [Electronic] England |
PMID | 19494781
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Aged
- Atrial Fibrillation
(complications, diagnosis, genetics)
- Brain Ischemia
(genetics)
- Connexins
(genetics)
- Echocardiography
- Electrocardiography
- Female
- Gene Frequency
- Genetic Predisposition to Disease
- Humans
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Odds Ratio
- Phenotype
- Polymorphism, Genetic
- Promoter Regions, Genetic
- Prospective Studies
- Risk Assessment
- Risk Factors
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