Effect of apoE genotype on the hypolipidaemic response to pravastatin in an outpatient setting.
BACKGROUND
Considerable variability exists in the plasma lipid and lipoprotein response to statin treatment due, in part, to genetic factors. The gene for apolipoprotein E (ApoE) is polymorphic and the different genotypes modulate baseline lipid levels. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the apoE genotype on the lipoprotein response to pravastatin treatment in an outpatient population followed-up in several different clinics across Spain. Subjects and methods. Subjects (n=401; 56% female; mean age 57 years), who were hypercholesterolaemic despite a diet poor in saturated fat and cholesterol, were treated according to NCEP-ATP II guidelines. Plasma lipids and lipoproteins were measured centrally before and after 16 weeks of treatment with 20 mg day-1 of pravastatin.


RESULTS
ApoE genotype distributions were 3.2% with varepsilon2/3, 73.1% with varepsilon3/3 and 22.4% with varepsilon3/4 or varepsilon4/4. ApoE genotype did not have any effect on baseline lipid levels except on triglycerides such that the carriers of the varepsilon2 allele had concentrations significantly greater than those subjects with varepsilon3/3 genotype and carriers of the varepsilon4 allele after adjustment for age, gender and body mass index (BMI) (P < 0.001). Once adjusted for age, gender, BMI and baseline lipid levels, the apoE polymorphism did not significantly influence the plasma lipid and lipoprotein response to pravastatin.


CONCLUSIONS
ApoE genotype appears not to influence the hypolipidaemic effect of pravastatin in patients monitored in a general outpatient setting.
Peña
R
R
Unidad de Arteriosclerosis, Hospital Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
Lahoz
C
C
Mostaza
J M
JM
Jiménez
J
J
Subirats
E
E
Pintó
X
X
Taboada
M
M
López-Pastor
A
A
D000553:Ambulatory Care; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017035:Pravastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013030:Spain; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D014280:Triglycerides; D017035:Pravastatin