Apolipoprotein E alleles in women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy

Objective: To investigate the frequency of apolipoprotein E (apoE) alleles among women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy. Methods: The presen ce of the three most common apoE alleles (epsilon 2, epsilon 3, epsilon 4) was determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length pol ymorphism in two groups of women: healthy pregnant women (n = 47) and pregn ant women with a diagnosis of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (n = 44 ). In addition, the frequencies of the alleles in the general population in our area are presented for comparison. Results: The frequency of the apo e psilon 4 allele was 21.6% among women with intrahepatic cholestasis and it was 16.0% among healthy pregnant women (Fisher exact test; P=0.216), which is close to the rate in the general population in our area (19%). None of t he apoE genotypes was significantly over-represented, and homozygous genoty pe epsilon 4 was not associated with more severe clinical disease than othe r genotypes. Conclusion: The observed profiles of allele and genotype frequ encies confirm the equilibrium state between apoE polymorphism and obstetri c cholestasis and suggest that apoE does not play a major role in the devel opment of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.