Venous thromboembolism-related genetic determinant F11 rs4253417 is a potential prognostic factor in ischaemic stroke

Ischaemic stroke (IS) and venous thromboembolism (VTE) are two forms of thromboembolism that, although distinct, seem to share numerous risk factors. Concerning genetic risk factors, while many VTE genetic markers have been reported, inclusively by genome-wide association studies (GWAS), the identification and validation of genetic determinants underlying IS pathogenesis have been challenging. Considering that IS and VTE shared biological pathways and aetiological factors, the severity of IS might be also influenced by VTE-related genetic variants. Thus, the present study was designed to analyse the impact of six VTE GWAS-identified genetic variants on the clinical outcome of 363 acute IS patients. Results revealed that the single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) F11 rs4253417 was an independent predictor of the 5-year risk of death among patients with total anterior circulation infarct (TACI). Namely, the ones carrying the SNP C allele presented a fourfold increase in the 5-year risk of death compared to TT genotype carriers (CC/CT vs. TT; adjusted HR, 4.240; 95% CI, 1.260–14.270; P = 0.020). This SNP is known to be associated with coagulation factor XI (FXI) levels, thus with implications in haemostasis and inflammation. As such, F11 rs4253417 might be a promising prognostic biomarker among TACI patients to aid in clinical decision-making. However, additional investigation is required to confirm the study's results and dissect the underlying mechanisms.