Apolipoprotein E polymorphisms in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma

PURPOSE: To investigate apolipoprotein E (APOE) polymorphisms, which are known to influence the risk of Alzheimer disease (AD), in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). DESIGN: Retrospective case-control association study. METHODS: Patients with POAG (n = 242) and controls (n = 187) were analyzed for the APOE epsilon 2/epsilon 3/epsilon 4 polymorphisms using minisequencing technique. RESULTS: The Alzheimer-associated APOE epsilon 4 allele had similar frequencies in the POAG group and in the control group. There was no difference between cases and controls with regard to APOE genotypes. CONCLUSIONS: If a common pathogenic mechanism exists for the two age-related neurodegenerative diseases, POAG and AD, it does not involve APOE polymorphisms.