Association study of the polymorphisms on chromosome 12p13 with atherothrombotic stroke in the Japanese population

Recent genome-wide association study using four prospective population-based cohorts identified two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on chromosome 12p13, rs12425791 and rs11833579, to be significantly associated with the incidence of atherothrombotic stroke. To examine the association of these SNPs with atherothrombotic stroke in the Japanese population, we carried out a case–control association study using a total of 3784 cases and 3102 controls. We also examined the effect of these SNPs on the subtypes of ischemic stroke. Association analysis was carried out using logistic regression model after adjustment of age, sex and cardiovascular risk factors. Rs12425791 was significantly associated with atherothrombotic stroke ( P =0.0084, odds ratio (OR)=1.15). When we analyzed effects of rs12425791 on ischemic stroke subtypes, rs12425791 was significantly associated with both small-artery occlusion ( P =0.015, OR=1.15) and large-artery atherosclerosis ( P =0.024, OR=1.19). Rs11833579 showed no association with atherothrombotic stroke or its subtypes in our population. Our data suggest that rs12425791 on chromosome 12p13 is a genetic marker for atherothrombotic stroke in multiethnic population.