Ischaemic strokes and homozygosity for the α2 807T allele of the platelet collagen receptor in young monozygotic twins

A nucleotide 807T variant of the glycoprotein la gene that correlates with increased platelet surface levels of the platelet collagen receptor α 2 β 1 was recently found to be associated with an increased risk of ischaemic stroke in younger patients. We report the history of twins who developed ischaemic strokes and were shown to be homozygous for the α 2 807T allele. The twins developed ischaemic strokes at the ages of 23 and 33 years, one of them with recurrent events. They had no conventional risk factors. Cardiac and vascular investigations were normal and no aetiology could be found. There was a family history of cerebrovascular disease. Genotyping of glycoprotein α 2 C 807 T was performed and both twins were found to be homozygous for the 807T allele. This allele probably contributed to the occurrence of strokes in these young men. Further prospective studies are needed to evaluate whether screening for this polymorphism should be considered in young patients with unexplained stroke, particularly when a positive family history was found.