Association Between Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Polymorphisms T786C and G894T and Ischaemic Stroke

INTRODUCTION: Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene polymorphisms are suspected to increase the risk of ischaemic stroke (IS). eNOS-synthesized NO regulates vascular tone and inhibits the progression of atherosclerosis. The present study aimed to determine the association between eNOS polymorphisms G894T and T786C and IS.
METHODS: Sixty acute IS patients (32 male, 28 female) were included and classified in accordance with the Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST) classification. Genotypes of patients with eNOS G894T and eNOS T786C polymorphisms were determined through polymerase chain reaction.
RESULTS: Significant differences were observed in the distribution of eNOS T786C polymorphism among IS subgroups. The eNOS T786C polymorphism heterozygote (TC) and homozygote (CC) genotypes more frequent in patients in the large artery atherosclerosis (LAA) subgroup. Considering a dominant model of inheritance for eNOS T786C polymorphism, the risk of IS was higher for the LAA subgroup than for other IS subgroups. Among potential haplotypes, the eNOS 786C+ eNOS 894G haplotype was associated with an increased risk of LAA; however, this finding was not statistically significant.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: eNOS gene polymorphisms are suspected to increase the risk of ischaemic stroke. Our results suggest that the eNOS T786C gene polymorphism is associated with LAA in IS patients.