The role of apolipoprotein E in cognitive decline after cardiac operation.
BACKGROUND
Recently, Tardiff and colleagues have suggested that the presence of the apolipoprotein E, epsilon4 allele was associated with increased likelihood of cognitive decline after coronary artery bypass grafting. The objective of the current study was to replicate this earlier work using an increased sample size. The increased sample also enabled an analysis by individual genotype in cognitive decline after coronary artery bypass grafting.


METHODS
Apolipoprotein E genotyping was performed on 111 individuals undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. Each participant underwent a battery of nine neuropsychological tests before operation and 4 to 7 weeks after operation.


RESULTS
Cognitive decline, assessed by both continuous Z change scores and two categoric measures of cognitive deficit, was not significantly associated with either individual apolipoprotein E genotypes or categorization by the presence or absence of the epsilon4 allele. The examination of potential moderating factors did not alter this finding.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that the epsilon4 allele is not associated with cognitive decline in the weeks after coronary artery bypass grafting.
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, Centre for Cardiovascular Genetics, University College London, England.
L
L
Steed
R
R
Kong
J
J
Stygall
J
J
Acharya
M
M
Bolla
M J
MJ
Harrison
S E
SE
Humphries
S P
SP
Newman
D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests
D001057:Apolipoproteins E