Apolipoprotein E polymorphism and preclinical carotid artery disease in untreated hypertensive men.
METHODS
The apolipoprotein E (apoE) polymorphism was evaluated alone, and in interaction with smoking status, in predicting carotid intima-medial thickness and plaque among 182 untreated, hypertensive, white men (mean age 56+/-8.9 years).


RESULTS
After covariate adjustment (age, education, smoking, body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, glucose, total : high-density lipoprotein), apoE genotype (no [epsilon]4 versus any [epsilon]4) predicted mean ([beta]=-0.139, P=0.023) and maximum ([beta]=-0.138, P=0.028) intima-medial thickness, as well as plaque ([beta]=-0.744; P=0.072). Tests of a genotype-x-smoking interaction were non-significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Mean intima-medial thickness was greater in men with the 3/3 than [epsilon]4 genotypes (2/4 3/4 4/4), suggesting genetic risk for carotid atherosclerosis may be conferred by the [epsilon]3, rather than the [epsilon]4, allele.
Bleil
Maria E
ME
Behavioral Physiology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. bleil@pitt.edu
Ferrell
Robert E
RE
Sutton-Tyrrell
Kim
K
Muldoon
Matthew F
MF
Manuck
Stephen B
SB
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012907:Smoking; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography
D001057:Apolipoproteins E