Apolipoprotein e gene and age-related maculopathy in older individuals: the cardiovascular health study.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the association between the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene and age-related maculopathy (ARM) in an older population.


METHODS
Two thousand one hundred seventy persons 65 years and older sampled from 4 US communities had ARM signs assessed from retinal photographs using a modified Wisconsin Age-Related Maculopathy Grading System. DNA extracted from blood samples was analyzed for common APOE alleles.


RESULTS
After controlling for age, sex, cigarette smoking, and other factors, white participants carrying the epsilon2 allele had an increased risk of late ARM (odds ratio, 2.53 [95% confidence interval, 1.08-5.90]) while carriers of the epsilon4 allele had a lower risk of late ARM (odds ratio, 0.69 [95% confidence interval, 0.19-2.50]). There were too few late ARM cases in African American individuals for analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
APOE polymorphism is associated with late ARM in older white persons 65 years and older. Consistent with previous studies, the APOE epsilon2 allele is associated with a significant increased risk of late ARM development, whereas the epsilon4 allele may confer some protection.
Tikellis
Gabriella
G
Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Sun
Cong
C
Gorin
Michael B
MB
Klein
Ronald
R
Klein
Barbara E K
BE
Larsen
Emily K Marino
EK
Siscovick
David S
DS
Hubbard
Larry D
LD
Wong
Tien Y
TY
D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000483:Alleles; D053329:Apolipoprotein E2 / Q000235:genetics*; D053318:Apolipoprotein E3 / Q000235:genetics*; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4 / Q000235:genetics*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012307:Risk Factors; D044465:White People
D053329:Apolipoprotein E2; D053318:Apolipoprotein E3; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4