Genetic susceptibility to primary intracerebral haemorrhage

Abstract

Primary intracerebral haemorrhage (PICH) originates from the spontaneous rupture of cerebral arteries as a result of chronic degenerative alterations. Although the aetiology of PICH has not been fully elucidated, it may be the result of an interaction between genetic and environmental risk factors. Several genetic association studies have been conducted in patients with PICH with both positive and negative results. Most of them investigated the role of mutations in genes affecting the lipid metabolism, the coagulation processes, the inflammation and the regulation of blood pressure. In this article we briefly discuss the majority of these studies reporting the susceptibility genes that have been implicated in PICH. © 2012 Touch Group PLC.