Apolipoprotein e gene polymorphism and its effect on plasma lipids in arteriosclerosis.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES Myocardial infarction and stroke are leading causes of death worldwide. Primarily, arteriosclerosis is responsible for these events. There is a strong family history suggesting a genetic cause. Apolipoprotein E (apo E) plays an important role in lipid metabolism. Apo E is polymorphic with three isoforms, ApoE2, ApoE3 and ApoE4; which translate into three alleles of the gene. Its polymorphism may be a risk determinant of atherosclerosis. METHODS Lipoprotein concentrations were studied, in 100 myocardial infarction and 50 cerebrovascular stroke subjects and compared with age and sex matched controls. Genotypes for apo E isoforms (E2, E3, and E4) for all above subjects and age and sex matched controls were determined by Multiplex Amplification Refractory Mutation System PCR. RESULTS There were statistically significant higher values of serum total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol in study group, as compared to control group. Study of Apo E isoforms revealed higher proportion of E4 allele in the study group as compared to control group. The occurrence of each allele frequency in study and control group was E4E4: 28.66% and 16.0%, E3E3: 39.33% and 56.66%, E4E3: 14.66% and 9.33%, E3E2: 8.66% and 10.66%, E4E2: 4.66% and 2.66% & for E2E2: 4.0% and 4.66% respectively. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION There were significantly higher levels of serum total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglyceride with E4 allele; when compared with in the study group and between study group and control group. Apo E polymorphism influences serum lipid levels and is an independent risk determinant of arteriosclerosis.