title: [The absence of a relation between apolipoprotein E genotypes and the severity of multiple sclerosis in Mexican patients].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The clinical course of multiple sclerosis (MS) varies widely. The natural history of the disease has shown that approximately 50% of patients that begin with a relapsing-remitting clinical course will have a progressive course about 10 years after disease onset and will need some kind of aid to walk. The expression of apolipoprotein E (ApoE) increases in nerve tissue undergoing regeneration and the ApoE epsilon-4 allele is associated with abnormal neural repair. Several different reports indicate that the ApoE epsilon-4 allele is associated with a greater progression of disability in patients with MS, although this is still a matter of debate.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyse the clinical characteristics of 99 patients diagnosed with MS, we describe the correlation between the presence or absence of the ApoE epsilon-4 allele and the age of onset, clinical subtype, progression of the disease, score on the Expanded Disability Status Scale and the relapse rate. We explore the impact of the presence of the epsilon-2 allele on the progress of the disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In patients under 21 years of age, we observed a higher frequency of the presence of the epsilon-4 allele (p = 0.057). Nevertheless, no association was found between any of the ApoE alleles and the indices of disease progression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results do not suggest any association between the presence of the ApoE epsilon-4 allele and the progression of disability in patients with MS in our sample.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio Clínico de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía. México DF, México. coronav@servidor.unam.mx
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Corona
authors.forename: Jorge L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Guerrero-Camacho
authors.forename: M Elisa
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Alonso-Vilatela
authors.forename: José de Jesús
authors.initials: Jde J
authors.lastname: Flores-Rivera
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4 / Q000235:genetics*; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D001057:Apolipoproteins E