Apolipoprotein E gene polymorphism in Egyptian acute coronary syndrome patients

Abstract

Background: Apolipoprotein E (apo E) gene polymorphism was found to be associated with coronary artery disease in several studies. In this investigation, we aimed to study the association between apo E gene polymorphism and acute coronary syndrome in Egyptian population.
Subjects and methods: The study included 200 patients with acute coronary syndrome (myocardial infarction and unstable angina), and 100 healthy controls. Anthropometric, clinical and lipid profile parameters were evaluated. Apo E genotyping was carried out using sequence-specific-primer (SSP)-PCR methodology.
Results: Є3/4 genotype frequency was higher in the patients than in the controls (P <0.05), while Є2/3 genotype frequency was elevated in the controls than in the patients (P < 0.05). In addition, the frequency of Є4 isoform was higher in the patients compared to the controls (P <0.001). Patients with Є3/4 and Є4/4 genotypes had significantly higher total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol, and lower triglyceride levels than those with Є3/3 genotype. No significant differences in apo E genotype distribution were found between myocardial infarction and unstable angina patients.
Conclusion: Apo E gene polymorphism had a role in acute coronary syndrome, possibly through affecting plasma lipid parameters.