Genetic epidemiology of intracerebral hemorrhage

Stroke is the third leading cause of death after cardiovascular disease and cancer. Stroke is the leading cause of disability in industrialized nations. Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) accounts for approximately 15% of all cases of stroke and is the subtype with the highest mortality rate (40--50%). One of the major unanswered questions is whether ICH has a genetic component and if so, what alleles contribute to susceptibility. The study of ICH is complex because different pathophysiologic mechanisms can lead to ICH. Through a population-based case ascertainment method, we have recruited a subset of cases of ICH for direct interview and genetic sampling and matched them to two population-based controls by age, race and gender. In our study of this cohort of subjects, we have found that the risk factors for ICH vary by location with hypertension being of greater importance among non-lobar ICH cases and Apolipoprotein E4 alleles being of greater importance among lobar ICH cases. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)...