APOLIPOPROTEIN-B GENE POLYMORPHISMS IN TAIWANESE ISCHEMIC STROKE PATIENTS

We analyzed the AluI restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) o f the apolipoprotein B (apoB) gene to determine the association betwee n AluI allelic distribution and the occurrence of ischemic stroke in T aiwan. A total of 44 healthy volunteers and 159 ischemic stroke patien ts were included in the study. The allele frequency of AluI was very s imilar in the two groups, 0.87 in the patient group and 0.89 in the co ntrol group, for the major allele A(-). The distribution of A(-)/A(-), A(-)/A(+), and A(+)/A(+) genotypes of the patients was not significan tly different from that of the controls. Among ischemic stroke patient s, the A(+) allele of the AluI restriction site was significantly asso ciated with elevated apoB levels. The results of this study suggest th at the presence of che rare AluI RFLP may contribute to an elevated pl asma apoB level, which is a known risk factor for ischemic stroke.