title: Maternal apolipoprotein E genotype as a potential risk factor for poor birth outcomes: The Bogalusa Heart Study.
abstract: The objective of this study was to assess the association between apolipoprotein E (apoE) genotype and preterm birth (PTB) and small for gestational age (SGA).
  
  
  
  ApoE phenotyping was performed on 680 women linked to 1065 births. Allele frequencies were compared and PTB and SGA risk was estimated using log-binomial regression.
  
  
  
  The ɛ2 allele was more common in SGA births (P<0.01). SGA risk was increased among ɛ2 carriers compared with genotype ɛ3/ɛ3, though associations were attenuated following adjustment for maternal age, education, race, smoking and prenatal visits. Stronger associations were observed for term SGA (first birth: adjusted relative risk (aRR)=1.78, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06 to 2.98; any birth: aRR=1.52, 95% CI 0.96 to 2.40) and among whites specifically (first: aRR=2.88, 95% CI 1.45 to 5.69; any: aRR=2.75, 95% CI 1.46 to 5.22).
  
  
  
  Associations between maternal apoE genotype and SGA may represent decreased fetal growth in women with lower circulating cholesterol levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA.
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA.
authors.forename: E W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Harville
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA.
authors.forename: T N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Bazzano
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D001724:Birth Weight; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008145:Louisiana / Q000453:epidemiology; D008423:Maternal Age; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E