Apolipoprotein E genotype and schizophrenia

Schizophrenic disorders are complex genetic disorders and may involve multi ple genes of small effect, The presence of apolipoprotein E (apoE) is assoc iated with several neuropsychiatric disorders. Previous studies on apoE gen otype distribution in schizophrenia have reported conflicting findings. We studied the genotype frequencies in a large group of schizophrenic patients . The genotype distribution was significantly different between the schizop hrenic patients and the control subjects. Persons who were epsilon 3 carrie rs have an increased risk of schizophrenia. This result suggests that apoE isoforms may play a functional role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenic di sorders, Some possible mechanisms regarding the effect of apoE on the devel opment of schizophrenia are discussed.