Apolipoproteins AI, B, and E polymorphisms in severe aortic valve stenosis

Hypercholesterolemia has been related to aortic valve stenosis (AS). Polymo rphisms of apolipoproteins (apo) AI, B, and E are associated with variable levels of plasma lipids, but the association between these polymorphisms an d AS is unknown. In a case-control study of groups matched by age, sex, com parable body mass index, hypertension, triglycerides, high-density lipoprot ein (HDL) cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, we an alyzed the distribution of apo AI A/G mutation, apo B signal peptide insert ion/deletion, apo B XbaI restriction fragment length, and apo E polymorphis ms in 62 non-diabetic patients with severe aortic valve stenosis and 62 con trol subjects. All patients underwent echocardiographic analysis. Univariat e analysis showed a higher prevalence of the XbaI X + /X + genotype (p = 0. 007) of apo B and the apo E2 allele (p = 0.034) in patients with severe AS. Apo polymorphisms were not associated with lipid levels, left ventricular mass, or the aortic gradient.