Genetic variations of the apolipoprotein E gene determine the plasma triglyceride levels after heart transplantation

Objectives: To study whether the presence of the polymorphism in the apolip oprotein E (apo E) gene influences the lipid profile in heart-transplant re cipients. Methods: A cohort of 103 recipients of heart transplant (93 men and 10 wome n, with a mean age of 47 +/- 13 years) under triple immunosuppressive thera py were submitted to a genetic study of the apo E gene region. Anthropometr ic and analytical data, including lipid profile and arterial blood pressure were collected prior to transplantation and 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after it. Results: 65 subjects present the genotype E3E3, 27 the genotype E3E4, 6 the genotype E2E3, and 5 the genotype E2E4. Carriers of the E2 allele (that is , genotypes E3E2 and E4E2) had higher total plasma triglyceride (TG) levels after 3 months (3.37 +/- 1.88 nmo/liter p < 0.001) and after 1 year of tra nsplantation (3.13 +/- 1.77 mmol/liter p < 0.05) than the other genotypes. There were no differences in the plasma levels of total cholesterol (TC), L DL-cholesterol (LDL-C), and HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C). Multiple regression an alysis revealed that the apoprotein E gene polymorphism determines 5% (p = 0.0425) and age 8.7% (p < 0.009) of the variants in TG levels. Conclusion: The presence of the E2 allele in heart-transplant recipients pr oduces a greater rise in total TG plasma levels than the other genotypes.