title: [Apolipoprotein E polymorphism as a predictor of progression of multiple sclerosis].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  During recent years, different studies have proposed that apolipoprotein E e4 can be a predictor of progression in multiple sclerosis. We aim to evaluate these findings in our country.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 42 patients with relapsing remitting or secondary progressive multiple sclerosis, and a disease duration of at least 2 years. We correlated the presence or absence of e4 allele with markers of progression such as age of onset and diagnosis, disease duration, number of relapses, EDSS at 1, 2, 5 and 10 years, progression index and relapse rate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  None of the parameters evaluated significantly correlate with e4 allele of the APOE.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In spite of the limitation due to the small number of patients studied, we cannot confirm that APOE e4 allele is a predictor of progression of disability in multiple sclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Neurología, Hospital Río Carrión, Palencia, Spain. aguerrerop@medynet.com
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Guerrero
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bueno
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Martín-Serradilla
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carrasco
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cuadrado
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013030:Spain
chemical_list: D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D001057:Apolipoproteins E