Genetic variation in members of the leukotriene biosynthesis pathway confer an increased risk of ischemic stroke: a replication study in two independent populations.
Studies that employ genome-wide linkage scans with hundreds of small nuclear families have identified new susceptibility genes for coronary artery disease and myocardiaI infarction, including ALOX5AP (encoding 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein) associated with myocardial infarction and stroke and PDE4D (encoding phosphodiesterase 4D) for ischemic stroke.
We conclude that variants of ALOX5AP are involved in the pathogenesis of both myocardial infarction and stroke by increasing leukotriene production and inflammation in the arterial wall.