Apolipoprotein E polymorphism is associated with both carotid and coronary atherosclerosis in patients with coronary artery disease

Granér, Marit; Kahri, Juhani; Varpula, Marjut; Salonen, Riitta M.; Nyyssönen, Kristiina; Jauhiainen, Matti; Nieminen, Markku S.; Syvänne, Mikko; Taskinen, Marja-Riitta

doi:10.1016/j.numecd.2007.01.003

« Previous Next »Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases
Volume 18, Issue 4 , Pages 271-277, May 2008

Apolipoprotein E polymorphism is associated with both carotid and coronary atherosclerosis in patients with coronary artery disease

Marit Granér
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Haartmaninkatu 4, FIN-00290 HUCH, Helsinki, Finland
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +358 50 427 0576; fax: +358 9 4717 4574.
Juhani Kahri
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Haartmaninkatu 4, FIN-00290 HUCH, Helsinki, Finland
Marjut Varpula
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Haartmaninkatu 4, FIN-00290 HUCH, Helsinki, Finland
Riitta M. Salonen
- Research Institute of Public Health, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland
Kristiina Nyyssönen
- Research Institute of Public Health, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland
Matti Jauhiainen
- National Public Health Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, Helsinki, Finland
Markku S. Nieminen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Haartmaninkatu 4, FIN-00290 HUCH, Helsinki, Finland
Mikko Syvänne
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Haartmaninkatu 4, FIN-00290 HUCH, Helsinki, Finland
Marja-Riitta Taskinen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Haartmaninkatu 4, FIN-00290 HUCH, Helsinki, Finland

Received 10 August 2006; received in revised form 1 December 2006; accepted 10 January 2007. published online 26 April 2007.

Abstract

Background and aims

Apolipoprotein E (apoE) polymorphism plays a significant role in the development of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to examine the association between apoE polymorphism and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), and severity and extent of coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods and results

B-mode ultrasound and quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) were used to assess carotid, and coronary artery atherosclerosis in 91 patients with clinically suspected CAD referred for cardiac catheterization. Two apoE phenotype groups were defined: apoE3 (E3/E3) and apoE4 (including E4/E3, E4/E4 phenotypes). Maximum IMT was higher in the apoE4 group than in the apoE3 group (p=0.022). The global atheroma burden index was similarly higher in the apoE4 group than in the apoE3 group (p=0.033). ApoE4 subjects had higher levels of apolipoprotein B (apoB) (p=0.008), triglycerides (p=0.006), remnant lipoprotein-cholesterol (RLP-C) (p=0.023), and lipoprotein(a) [(Lp(a)] (p=0.041) than apoE3 subjects. The mean LDL particle size was smaller in the apoE4 group than in the apoE3 group (p=0.041).

Conclusions

ApoE polymorphism was associated with both carotid and coronary atherosclerosis. Patients with the apoE4 isoform had an increased carotid IMT and a more severe and extensive CAD than patients with the apoE3 isoform.

Keywords: Apolipoproteins, Coronary artery disease, Coronary angiography, Carotid intima-media thickness