Apolipoprotein E promoter polymorphisms do not have a major influence on the risk of developing primary open angle glaucoma.
OBJECTIVE
Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) is a major cause of late onset visual failure of unknown etiology. Recent genetic association studies have implicated the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene in the pathophysiology of primary open angle glaucoma, but there have been conflicting findings.


METHODS
To resolve this issue we studied 140 cases and 73 controls that were carefully phenotyped, and used a logistic regression model to simultaneously analyze the effect of apolipoprotein E genotype and functional polymorphisms in the apolipoprotein E gene promoter while controlling for potentially confounding variables.


RESULTS
We found no evidence of an association between the apolipoprotein E promoter region polymorphisms and primary open angle glaucoma.


CONCLUSIONS
Apolipoprotein E promoter polymorphisms are unlikely to have a major impact on the pathophysiology of primary open angle glaucoma.
Ressiniotis
Thomas
T
Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
Griffiths
Philip G
PG
Birch
Michael
M
Keers
Sharon M
SM
Chinnery
Patrick F
PF
D000368:Aged; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D012307:Risk Factors
D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D017931:DNA Primers