title: Evaluation of apolipoprotein E (apoE) and lipoprotein profile in severe alcohol-dependent individuals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic alcohol consumption down-regulates the expression of sialytransferase genes resulting in impaired sialylation of apolipoprotein E (apoE) and decreased association with HDL. There are a limited number of studies with contradictory data on the effect of alcohol dependence on human plasma apoE. The aim of the present work is to determine and compare the levels of apoE in relation to the other lipoproteins in alcohol-dependent individuals in order to evaluate the possible role of apoE in lipoprotein metabolism in conditions of severe alcohol dependence.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample of our study comprised 43 DSM-IV diagnosed alcohol-dependent/abusing subjects (33 males and 10 females), treated on an inpatient basis according to a standard detoxification protocol, and 27 healthy people (9 males and 18 females, as a control group). Serum concentration of hepatic enzymes (AST, ALT, gammaGT), as well as measures of cholesterol and lipoproteins were obtained at baseline and at discharge after a detoxification period of 4-5 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Upon admission, all alcohol-dependent individuals had significantly higher hepatic enzyme levels, apoE and HDL values compared to controls. After completion of alcohol detoxification, all the above parameters returned to normal levels. Additionally, a significant correlation was observed between alcohol consumption during the previous year of alcohol abuse and the apoE values both upon admission to and on discharge from the detoxification program.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The statistical correlation between apoE on admission and discharge with alcohol consumption during the previous year suggests that apoE is dependent on alcohol consumption and can serve as a sensitive marker of severe alcohol abuse.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece. iliappas@eginitio.uoa.gr
authors: Ioannis A
authors: IA
authors: Liappas
authors: Chrysoula
authors: C
authors: Nikolaou
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Michalopoulou
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Paparrigopoulos
authors: Elias O
authors: EO
authors: Tzavellas
authors: Christina
authors: C
authors: Piperi
authors: Caterina
authors: C
authors: Cambouri
authors: Constantin R
authors: CR
authors: Soldatos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000097:blood*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D015415:Biomarkers; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase