title: Association between the APOE*4 allele and atherosclerosis is age dependent among Argentine males.
abstract: Several studies have shown evidence of an association between the *4 allele of apolipoprotein E (APOE) and coronary heart disease (CHD) in different populations. We determined the APOE genotype and total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) values in 189 patients with angiographically evaluated atherosclerosis. The APOE*4 allele was found to be statistically significantly more frequent (odds ratio, 1.93; 95% confidence interval, 1.12-3.32) among male patients than in a randomly chosen population-based sample. No significant difference was found when female patients were compared to the general population. The APOE*4 allele was found primarily among young (30-45-year-old) male patients (p < 0.04). Despite the ascending linear tendency of the mean TC values for genotypes APOE*2/*3, APOE*3/*3, and APOE*3/ *4 reported in our case population, no differences were observed among our patients. We conclude that the APOE*4 allele is associated with an increased risk for atherosclerotic vascular disease, that this association has an age-dependent effect, and that it acts as a genetic factor that increases susceptibility to developing the disease in young to middle-aged male adults in our population.
authors.affiliation: Centro Nacional de Genética Médica, Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud Dr. Carlos Malbrán, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Virginia G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Bañares
authors.forename: Graciela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Aguilar
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gulayin
authors.forename: Elías
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sisu
authors.forename: Diego F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Wyszynski
authors.forename: Omar H
authors.initials: OH
authors.lastname: Pivetta
authors.forename: Marcelo J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Tavella
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D012044:Regression Analysis; D017678:Sex Distribution
chemical_list: D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D001057:Apolipoproteins E