The alpha2 gene coding sequence T807/A873 of the platelet collagen receptor integrin alpha2beta1 might be a genetic risk factor for the development of stroke in younger patients.

The polymorphisms C807T and G873A of the platelet integrin alpha2beta1 (collagen receptor glycoprotein [GP] Ia-IIa) are linked to the expression density of this receptor. The GPIa T807/A873 allele causes a higher receptor expression, enhancing platelet binding to collagen. This might present a genetic predisposition for the development of thromboembolic complications. In this case-control study, the genotypes of the GPIa C807T polymorphism and presence of conventional risk factors (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and smoking) were compared in stroke patients and patients without cerebrovascular disease (non-CVD patients) </=50 years of age (n = 45 and 41, respectively) and in stroke patients and non-CVD patients more than 50 years of age (n = 182 and 129, respectively. In patients </=50 years of age, the T807 allele was the only overrepresented variable (P =.023; odds ratio, 3.02; 95% confidence interval, 1.20 to 7.61) and an independent risk factor, whereas the presence of conventional risk factors was similar between stroke patients </=50 years of age and non-CVD patients </=50 years of age. Large epidemiological studies should prove whether the platelet collagen receptor GPIa-IIa T807 allele is an independent risk factor for the development of stroke in younger patients.