title: The relationship between apolipoprotein E polymorphism, lipoprotein (a) and fatty liver disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The apolipoprotein E (apo E) gene is known to affect plasma lipoprotein-lipid levels, and lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] is an atherogenic lipoprotein that is negatively correlated with triglyceride level. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the apo E genotype, plasma Lp(a) level, and fatty liver.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was performed on 711 subjects who were diagnosed as having fatty liver by ultrasonography and on 711 sex- and age-matched control subjects. Apo E genotype, plasma Lp(a) concentrations, and serum levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol, and HDL-cholesterol were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fatty liver subjects were found to have significantly higher triglyceride, and lower HDL-cholesterol levels. According to the multivariate logistic regression analysis, the odds ratios for fatty liver were 2.254 (95% CI 1.697-2.993) for hypertriglyceridemia, 1.841 (95% CI 1.449-2.339) for a high LDL-cholesterol level, 1.509 (95% CI 1.112-2.046) for a low HDL-cholesterol level, and 0.364 (95% CI 0.194-0.684) for a high HDL-cholesterol level. The odds ratios of epsilon4 and a high plasma Lp(a) level for fatty liver were 0.631 (95% CI 0.468-0.850) and 0.607 (95% CI 0.470-0.784) respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that the epsilon4 allele of apo E and plasma Lp(a) concentration may be associated with the pathogenesis of fatty liver.
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Promotion, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Moon Hee
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Hee Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Ji Dong
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: Yoon Ho
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Kwang Cheol
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.forename: Byung Chul
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Seung Woon
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Paik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D017270:Lipoprotein(a) / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D005819:Genetic Markers; D017270:Lipoprotein(a)