title: The relationship of APOE genetic polymorphism with susceptibility to multiple sclerosis and its clinical phenotypes in Kuwaiti Arab subjects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The possible pathogenetic relationship between APOE genetic polymorphism and susceptibility to a variety of neurodegenerative disorders, including multiple sclerosis, is controversial. Previous studies have been conducted in Caucasian subjects, with little or no data on subjects from the Arabian Gulf. We compared the frequencies of specific APOE genotypes and alleles in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) with frequencies observed in a healthy control Kuwaiti Arab population to relate APOE frequencies with specific identifiable clinical features of the disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two groups of subjects were studied: (i) 39 (17 M, 22 F) patients with clinical evidence of MS; (ii) 106 apparently healthy Kuwaitis recruited as control subjects. The MS patients had detailed clinical and laboratory evaluations, and APOE genotypes were determined in all the subjects (patients and controls) by validated PCR methods. Differences in frequencies of APOE alleles and associations of specific alleles with clinical features were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences in allele frequencies between patients and controls, although there was a statistically insignificant trend towards lower APOE2 allele frequency in the patients (p=0.09). There was a significant association of the APOE4 allele with female gender in the patients (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In Kuwaitis, a population with low MS prevalence, no statistically significant associations between APOE genetic polymorphism and susceptibility to MS could be established, but there was a trend towards a lower APOE2 frequency with MS and towards increased frequency of APOE4 in female patients and with severe disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Kuwait University Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait.
authors.forename: Suhail
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al-Shammri
authors.forename: Hasmukh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fatania
authors.forename: Reem
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Al-Radwan
authors.forename: Abayomi O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Akanji
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D053329:Apolipoprotein E2; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D018912:Arabs; D002648:Child; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007730:Kuwait / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D010641:Phenotype; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
chemical_list: D053329:Apolipoprotein E2; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D001057:Apolipoproteins E