Bottom Line: Sickle cell trait may not be a genetic risk factor for ischemic stroke among African Americans, according to a meta-analysis that combined the results of four studies with 19,464 African American participants. Ischemic stroke occurs when a blood clot blocks a blood vessel in the brain.
Why The Research Is Interesting: African Americans and individuals of African ancestry are at higher risk of stroke than individuals who are non-Hispanic white. Understanding sources of this disparity could help to identify people at risk and help to target therapy. It is unclear if
sickle cell
trait is a genetic risk factor for increased risk of ischemic stroke among African Americans.
Authors: Hyacinth I. Hyacinth, M.D., Ph.D., of Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, and coauthors
‘Sickle cell trait is not a genetic risk factor for increased risk of ischemic stroke among African Americans.’
Study Design: This was a meta-analysis. A meta-analysis combines the results of multiple studies and quantitatively summarizes the overall association between the same exposure and outcomes measured across all studies.
Source: Eurekalert
