Abstract: Objective To research the relationship between promoter polymorphism-438 A/G of thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitorgene (TAFI-438 A/G) and atherosclerotic cerebral infarction (ACI) in Chinese Han population. Methods TAFI-438A/G genotypes andtheir allele frequencies were identified with the polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in225 ACI patients and 184 healthy controls. Results There was no significant difference of TAFI-438A/G polymorphism between ACI groupand control group. Stratified by gender, in males, the incidence of A allele was 28.6% in ACI group, and 20.6% in control (P=0.039); of theAA genotype was 9.0% in ACI group, and 1.9% in control (P=0.019). But no significant difference was found in females. ConclusionTAFI-438A/G polymorphism is associated with the risk of ACI in males, that AA genotype may increase the risk of ACI.

Key words: thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor, promoter, polymorphism, atherosclerosis, cerebral infarction.