Apolipoprotein E alleles in women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the frequency of apolipoprotein E (apoE) alleles among women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.


METHODS
The presence of the three most common apoE alleles (epsilon2, epsilon3, epsilon4) was determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism in two groups of women: healthy pregnant women (n = 47) and pregnant women with a diagnosis of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (n = 44). In addition, the frequencies of the alleles in the general population in our area are presented for comparison.


RESULTS
The frequency of the apo epsilon4 allele was 21.6% among women with intrahepatic cholestasis and it was 16.0% among healthy pregnant women (Fisher exact test; P= 0.216), which is close to the rate in the general population in our area (19%). None of the apoE genotypes was significantly over-represented, and homozygous genotype epsilon4 was not associated with more severe clinical disease than other genotypes.


CONCLUSIONS
The observed profiles of allele and genotype frequencies confirm the equilibrium state between apoE polymorphism and obstetric cholestasis and suggest that apoE does not play a major role in the development of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.
Eloranta
M L
ML
Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kuopio University Hospital, Finland.
Heiskanen
J
J
Hiltunen
M
M
Helisalmi
S
S
Mannermaa
A
A
Heinonen
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002780:Cholestasis, Intrahepatic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000378:metabolism
D001057:Apolipoproteins E