Whole genome approaches in ischemic stroke.

Abstract

The field of ischemic stroke genetics is moving beyond candidate gene studies into the realm of genomewide association studies. Such studies have resulted in discoveries in diverse, complex disorders. The author conducted an informal qualitative review of peer-reviewed medical literature. The power of genomewide association studies to confirm prior associations and establish new ones is illustrated by recent work focusing on type 2 diabetes mellitus. A pilot genomewide association study of ischemic stroke failed to identify a single gene of major effect. Follow-up studies with substantially greater statistical power are essential and are being planned by the Wellcome Trust and others.