Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 polymorphism as a protective factor for intracranial vascular stenosis in ischemic stroke in Han Chinese

Aim: Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) is a key enzyme that metabolizes acetaldehyde to acetic acid. ALDH2 gene polymorphism modifies its activity and the mutation of ALDH2 gene has been reported to be associated with the protection against ischemic stroke. However, the potential association of allelic variation of ALDH2 with intracranial vascular stenosis and the clinical characteristics of ischemic stroke without coronary artery disease remains unclear. Methods: In this study, ischemic stroke patients were recruited, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores were analyzed, intracranial arterial stenosis were evaluated by magnetic resonance angiography and gene typing of ALDH2 was determined by polymerase chain reaction and sequencing. Results: We found that the rate of heavy drinking was significantly lower in the ALDH2 mutation group ((*)1/(*)2 and (*)2/(*)2) than in wild-type group ((*)1/(*)1) (18.6% vs. 38.0%, p = 0.01). Plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels were significantly different in the two groups (15.45 +/- 6.39vs. 13.14 +/- 4.45, p = 0.015). The ALDH2 mutation genotype was negatively correlated with severe intracranial vascular stenosis (OR, 0.34; p = 0.002), even after adjustment for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, Hcy, and heavy drinking (adjusted OR, 0.44; p = 0.03). Conclusion: ALDH2(*)2 could be a protective factor and negative predictor for severe intracranial vascular stenosis in ischemic stroke in Han Chinese.