Apolipoprotein E polymorphism as a risk factor for vascular disease in diabetic patients

• Published in: Diabetes care Vol. 18; no. 4; pp. 504 - 508
• Main Authors: BOEMI, M, SIROLLA, C, AMADIO, L, FUMELLI, P, POMETTA, D, JAMES, R. W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Alexandria, VA American Diabetes Association 01.04.1995
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Apolipoproteins E - genetics; Apolipoproteins E - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiovascular Diseases - epidemiology; Cardiovascular Diseases - etiology; Cardiovascular Diseases - metabolism; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; Diabetic Angiopathies - epidemiology; Diabetic Angiopathies - metabolism; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinopathies; Etiopathogenesis. Screening. Investigations. Target tissue resistance; Female; Humans; Italy - epidemiology; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Phenotype; Polymorphism, Genetic; Prevalence; Regression Analysis; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Italy; Endocrinopathy; Vascular disease; Human; Allele; Phenotype; Genetic inheritance; Microangiopathy; Apolipoprotein E; Diabetes mellitus; Cardiovascular disease; Apolipoproteins; Polymorphism
• ISSN: 0149-5992; 1935-5548
• DOI: 10.2337/diacare.18.4.504

Apolipoprotein E polymorphism as a risk factor for vascular disease in diabetic patients. M Boemi , C Sirolla , L Amadio , P Fumelli , D Pometta and R W James Division of Diabetology, Instituto Nationale Riposa Cura per Anziani, Ancona, Italy. Abstract OBJECTIVE--To examine the prevalence of cardiovascular disease in diabetic patients as a function of apolipoprotein (apo) E polymorphism. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS--The apo E phenotypes and plasma lipid, lipoprotein, and apo levels were determined for 517 Italian diabetic patients. The prevalence of cardiovascular disease (defined as ischemic heart disease [HD] and/or peripheral vascular disease and/or cerebrovascular disease) was assessed as a function of apo E polymorphism at entry and after 4 years. RESULTS--The occurrence of vascular disease did not differ significantly between diabetic patients in the various categories of apo E phenotype either at entry into the study or after 4 years. When expressed as a percentage of patients with disease, we observed--for E2, E3, and E4 carriers, respectively--at entry: IHD, 20.0% (n = 14), 21.0% (n = 79), and 21.5% (n = 14); and macroangiopathy, 24.3% (n = 17), 29.3% (n = 110), and 24.6% (n = 16). Apo E polymorphism did not make a significant contribution to multiple logistic regression models designed to identify the factors associated with the occurrence of vascular disease in diabetic patients. CONCLUSION--Apo E polymorphism and, notably, the apo E4 allele cannot be universally considered as a particular risk factor for cardiovascular disease in diabetic patients.