Lack of association between apolipoprotein E genoype and ischaemic stroke in a Scottish population

Background Apolipoprotein E epsilon4 allele has been associated with increa sed risk of coronary heart disease, and is also a major genetic susceptibil ity locus for Alzheimer's disease. Some studies have shown an association b etween apoE genotype and ischaemic stroke or outcome following stroke, whil e other studies have failed to do so. Materials and methods Using PCR and the Taqman fluorescence system to detec t polymorphisms we examined apoE genotype in 266 ischaemic stroke cases and in a control population. Results We found no association between apoeE epsilon 4 allele distribution and ischaemic stroke, or with outcome following stroke as measured using t he Rankin score. Conclusion This study disagrees with a recent meta-analysis, and suggests t hat further studies are required to clarify the exact relationship between apoE genotype and ischaemic stroke.