MMP-9 polymorphisms are not associated with spontaneous cervical artery dissection.

Background And Purpose: Cervical artery dissection (CAD) is a common cause of ischemic stroke in young adults. Alteration in the structure of the vascular extracellular matrix has been described in CAD. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) degrade extracellular matrix proteins and can lead to vascular damage.

Methods: We tested 2 different MMP-9 DNA polymorphisms, a CA repeat and a cytosine to thymidine transition in the promotor sequence, for frequency in 52 patients with CAD. We compared the results with those of 52 healthy controls.

Results: No differences were found in the allelic distribution of either polymorphism.

Conclusions: Alleles of these well-characterized functional polymorphisms of MMP-9 gene are not associated with structural alterations in the matrix of vessels of patients with CAD.