APOLIPOPROTEIN-E GENOTYPES AND METABOLIC RISK-FACTORS FOR CORONARY HEART-DISEASE IN MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN

Apo E genotypes and plasma metabolic risk factors (total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL and: LDL cholesterol, total/HDL cholesterol ratio, lipoprotein. Lp (a), apolipoprotein A-I, A-II, apo B, and apo E) were determined in 134 healthy middle-aged (X +/- SD 49.62 +/- 4.83) women. The aim of this study was to investigate metabolic risk markers accor ding to various apo E genotypes, and to evaluate a possible risk for c oronary heart disease. The results revealed that the frequencies of ap o E3/3 are the most frequent (46%), followed by E4/4 (2%), E3/4 (14%), E2/3 (14%), and E2/4 (2%) in the middle-aged women. Higher mean trigl ycerides, LDL-C and apo B levels were found with apo E3/4, and lower m ean levels of HDL-C i.e. apo A-I than in, other analyzed genotypes. Gr eater mean of total/HDL ratio and lower levels of apo A-II were seen w ith E2/4. Serum lipoprotein Lp (a) concentration was higher in. women with genotypes E3/3. Apo E concentration was the lowest with genotypes E4/4, i.e. the highest with E2/3. Serum total cholesterol fended to b e higher in women with genotypes E4/4. Genotype E3/4 is connected with the highest concentrations of(Xi SD) triglycerides (1.74 +/- 078), LD L (4.28 +/- 1.88), apo B (1.03 +/- 0.32) and with the lowest concentra tions of HDL cholesterol (1.11 +/- 0.21) in. the relation to the other analyzed genotypes. This group of women could possibly represent high risk women for CHD. Genotype E3/3 is associated with the highest conc entration of independent genetic risk marker for CHD, lipoprotein Lp ( a) (0.19 +/- 0.27). The genotype E4/4 has the highest concentration of total cholesterol (5.93 +/- 1.01), and has to be taken in account for risk evaluation in women. High level of apo E (0.11 +/- 0.05) and low level of apo A-I (1.80 +/- 0.44) were associated with E2/3 genotypes. The significance of E3/4 with the high total/HDL ratio (5.52 +/- 2.21 ) and low apo A-II (0.53 +/- 0.09) is important indicator, because tot al/HDL cholesterol ratio represents independent Established Risk Facto r (ERF) for CHD. Apolipoprotein E genotypes as genetic markers and inv estigation of serum metabolic risk markers appear to be important in v iew for further evaluation. of high risk women for CHD in our populati on.