title: Apolipoprotein E genotype does not influence the progression of multiple sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the association between apolipoprotein E (APOE) polymorphisms and the progression of MS.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated 428 subjects affected by clinically defined MS, with a disease duration of at least three years. We collected data concerning the age at onset of MS, clinical type, disease duration and disability according to the expanded disability status scale (EDSS). We also calculated the progression index (PI) to evaluate disease progression. APOE genotyping and the -491 A/T polymorphism of the APOE promoter were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No association was observed between the APOE epsilon4 allele and clinical characteristics of our study population. We also investigated the -491 A/T APOE promoter polymorphism in 236 MS subjects and did not find any association between the -491 A/T polymorphism and the selected clinical variables.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our population the APOE epsilon4 allele and the -491 A/T APOE promoter polymorphism are not associated with a more rapid course of MS.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E