A collaboration between
the Maryland Stroke Center and the Center for the Genetics of
Asthma & Complex Diseases at the University of Maryland, Baltimore
A Study of the
Inheritance of Stroke
Stroke is the third leading
cause of death and the leading cause of major disability in the
United States, affecting as many as 3.8 million people. Strokes
account for half of all patients hospitalized for acute neurological
disease. According to the Framingham Heart Study, 28% of annual
brain attack victims are under age 65.
Recent publications have indicated
that the risk of stroke increases with a family history of stroke,
particularly in those patients who have experienced a stroke before
the age of 50. The Family Stroke Study's, fundamental goal is
to recruit families with such a history and identify the genes
that regulate this occurrence.
This study is a collaboration
of investigators between the Center
for the Genetics of Asthma and Complex Diseases and the Stroke
Center at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. Supported by
the American Heart Association
and the National Institute
of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the Maryland Stroke
Center has had a longstanding history of contributions to our
understanding of stroke in young adults. The current initiative
in the genetics of stroke is partly supported by a collaborative
relationship with the Cardiovascular Health Branch, Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention.
Eligibility Criteria
Ischemic stroke before age 50.
Family history of premature vascular
disease.
What does participation
involve?
A detailed family history regarding vascular
disease.
All
participants will receive a newsletter providing ongoing education
about stroke and vascular disease.
A
subset of families will be invited to participate in a more detailed
study which will require a blood sample and a review of medical
records.
Ischemic stroke before age 50.