Previous studies have shown an association between chromosome 4q25 variants (rs2200733, rs10033464, and rs1906591) and the risk of ischemic stroke. However, the results are inconsistent. Thus, we conducted this meta-analysis to evaluate risk effect of chromosome 4q25 variants on ischemic stroke. We performed the literature search in PubMed and Embase through October 2014 for all the potentially relevant studies. The odds ratios (ORs), together with the corresponding 95 % confidence intervals (95 % CIs) were calculated to evaluate the strength of association. The search yielded eight studies (13 reports for rs2200733, 13 reports for rs10033464, and 7 reports for rs1906591). The ORs for overall ischemic stroke risk were 1.17 (95 % CI 1.09-1.26) for rs2200733*T, 1.02 (95 % CI 0.96-1.08) for rs10033464*T and 1.21 (95 % CI 1.10-1.32) for rs1906591*A. Stratified analysis by ischemic stroke subtypes revealed a stronger association between all the variants and cardioembolic stroke (CES) (OR = 1.41, 95 % CI 1.31-1.53 for rs2200733*T, OR = 1.18, 95 % CI 1.07-1.31 for rs10033464*T and OR = 1.51, 95 % CI 1.29-1.77 for rs1906591*A). The results of our meta-analysis indicated that chromosome 4q25 variants are associated with ischemic stroke risk, in particular cardioembolic stroke (CES).
Keywords: Chromosome 4q25; Ischemic stroke; Polymorphism.