Apolipoprotein E Gene Polymorphism in Iranian Coronary Atherosclerosis Patients Candidate for Coronary Artery Bypass Graft

  Objective(s): Apolipoprotein E genotype (APOE) polymorphism affects lipid levels and coronary artery disease (CAD) risk. The aim of this study was to study the association of the Apolipoprotein E genotypes with coronary artery disease in the Iranian population.   Materials and Methods: The Apolipoprotein E genotype in DNA samples extracted from ۶۶ CAD+ patients and ۶۱ control subjects by restricting enzyme digestion of amplified exon ۴ APOE gene was determined. Results : The ε۳ allele was found at similar frequency in control subjects (۸۸.۵%) and atherosclerosis patients (۸۳.۳%) (P=۰.۳۱۴). Our results showed that the frequency of the ɛ۳/ɛ۳ and ε۳/ε۴ genotypes increased in three-vessel-disease patients and the frequency of ɛ۲/ɛ۲ genotype increased in one-vessel-disease patients. Conclusion : ɛ۳/ɛ۳ and ɛ۳/ɛ۴ genotypes are suggested to be predisposing factors, which, in combination with environmental factors, may trigger the degree of luminal narrowing. The possible mechanisms remain elusive and require further studies.