Association of the apolipoprotein E variants with susceptibility to pregnancy with preeclampsia.

BACKGROUND

Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) polymorphism plays a significant role in the development of several diseases, but its role in the preeclampsia disease incidence is not clear. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the susceptibility of some pregnant women to preeclampsia.

METHODS

In a comparative cross-sectional study, the ApoE polymorphism genotypes were investigated in 100 patients with preeclampcia and 100 normal pregnant, using the polymerase chain reactions (PCR) analysis. Serum lipids and lipoproteins concentrations were also evaluated using the commercially available kits.

RESULTS

The difference in distribution of the epsilon2/epsilon2, epsilon2/epsilon3, epsilon2/epsilon4, epsilon3/epsilon3, epsilon3/epsilon4 and epsilon4/epsilon4 genotypes between patient subjects and controls was not significantly (p = 0.266). The data obtained for Apo epsilon4, epsilon2 and epsilon3 alleles in the patient group was not different significantly from those obtained for the control group (p = 0.220). The VLDL and TG levels of the patient group were higher significantly than controls (p < 0.01, p < 0.01 respectively). The data obtained for HDL concentration (52.2 +/- 16.1 g/dL) of the patient group was not different significantly from controls (49.4 +/- 12.5 g/dL). The difference between LDL concentration of patients with preeclampsia and controls was not significant. The cholesterol concentration of control subjects was not different significantly from patient subjects.

CONCLUSIONS

The observed profiles of ApoE alleles and genotypes frequencies suggest that Apo E polymorphism does not play a major role in the development of preeclampsia. Nonetheless, the abnormal lipid profiles that we found in patients with preeclampsia may have a genetic explanation and/or contribution.