Interaction between testosterone and apolipoprotein E epsilon4 status on cognition in healthy older men

CONTEXT: Reduced testosterone levels have been implicated as a potential causative factor in cognitive decline with older age. Men who possess the apolipoprotein E (APOE) epsilon4 allele have an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease; however, no studies have examined whether the influence of testosterone on cognition in healthy older men may be modulated by this genetic predisposition. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to investigate the association between serum testosterone concentrations and cognitive performance in healthy older men, taking into account APOE epsilon4 status. DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study conducted from 2003 to 2004. SETTING: The study population consisted of community-dwelling males residing in Perth, Western Australia. PARTICIPANTS: Healthy men over 55 yr, free of cognitive impairment and dementia (n = 45), were included in the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Participants had fasting early morning blood samples for testosterone and SHBG and were assessed for mood as well as indices of general cognition, verbal and visual memory, executive functioning, working memory, and attention. RESULTS: There was a significant interaction between calculated free testosterone (FT) and APOE epsilon4 on general cognition (P = 0.01) and executive functioning, working memory, and attention (P < 0.01). Higher levels of FT were associated with better general cognition in non-epsilon4 carriers (P = 0.01). By contrast, in epsilon4 carriers higher FT levels were associated with lower scores on tests of executive functioning, working memory, and attention (P = 0.02). In men at increased risk for Alzheimer's disease, higher testosterone levels were not associated with better cognitive function. CONCLUSIONS: Cross-sectional and prospective studies of testosterone and cognition in older men should take into account APOE epsilon4 status.     

Lower prevalence of epsilon 4 allele of apolipoprotein E gene in healthy, longer-lived individuals of Hellenic origin

Apolipoprotein E (ApoE), and especially its epsilon4 isoform, is considered a risk factor predisposing to coronary heart disease. We hypothesized that the absence of epsilon4 allele offers a better chance for longer life. So we compared the prevalence of ApoE genotypes in 80 healthy aged individuals (HAI) (>80 years) and 391 Greek adults (median age 43 years) with ApoE genotype distribution consistent with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (chi(2) = 5.93, p >.05). ApoE genotypes were comparable in both groups with the exception of E3/3 and E3/4, which were significantly higher (87.50% vs 75.99%, p =.025) and lower (5.00% vs 13.19%, p =.036), respectively, in HAI. The epsilon2 and epsilon3 allele frequencies were not different between the groups. The epsilon4 allele was significantly less frequent in HAI compared to controls (3.1% vs 8.58%, p =.020). Our results indicate an unfavorable effect of epsilon4 allele on longevity that may be attenuated by environmental and/or other genetic factors.     

Meta-based evidence for apolipoprotein E epsilon2/epsilon3/epsilon4 polymorphism in association with hypertension among Chinese

Mounting evidence suggests that hypertension is strongly linked to a variety of lipoprotein metabolism abnormalities. Apolipoprotein E gene (ApoE) is one such candidate with its common ?2/?3/?4 polymorphism ranking high in hypertension association. To derive more specific information, we pinpoint our research scope in Chinese to test whether this polymorphism is associated with hypertension via a meta-analysis. Random-effects model was performed irrespective of the between study heterogeneity. Data and study quality were assessed in duplicate. Publication bias was evaluated using the fail-safe number. Overall, 12 studies with 14 study groups totalling 1532 hypertensive patients and 2172 controls were identified. Carriers of ApoE ?2 allele had no significant increased risk for hypertension (pooled odds ratio (OR)=1.04; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.80-1.35; P=0.78), compared with those carrying ?3 allele, whereas those with ?4 allele had a significant increased risk for hypertension (pooled OR=2.03; 95% CI: 1.61-2.55; P<0.00001). After excluding those with other small nationalities, we observed comparison of ApoE ?2 with ?3 allele yielded a pooled OR of 0.99 (95% CI: 0.82-1.19; P=0.89) among Han Chinese, and that of ?4 with ?3 yielded a pooled OR of 1.99 (95% CI: 1.48-2.67; P<0.00001). The fail-safe number at the level of 0.05 supported these significant associations. Taken together, our results expand previous findings and show that ApoE ?4 allele is associated with a twofold increased risk of developing hypertension in Chinese.     

载脂蛋白E基因多态性与脑梗死的关系

目的探讨载脂蛋白E（apoE）基因多态性与脑梗死的关系。方法应用聚合酶链式反应-限制性片断长度多态性（PCR—RFLP）技术检测78例脑梗死患者和90名健康对照者apoE基因多态性分布特征。结果发现5种apoE基因型，脑梗死组E3／4基因型频率（23．1％）及ε4频率（14.7%）显著高于对照组（7．8％，5．0％），P〈0．05。而E3／3基因型频率（56．4％）及ε3频率（75.6%）显著低于对照组（78．9％，88．3％），P〈0．05。不同apoE基因型间胆固醇和低密度脂蛋白胆固醇水平差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论apoE基因多态性与脑梗死有关，并影响血脂水平。     

Genetics and visual attention: selective deficits in healthy adult carriers of the epsilon 4 allele of the apolipoprotein E gene

The epsilon4 allele of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene is associated with altered brain physiology in healthy adults before old age, but concomitant deficits in cognition on standardized tests of cognitive function have not been consistently demonstrated. We hypothesized that sensitive and specific assessment of basic attentional functions that underlie complex cognition would reveal evidence of impairment in otherwise asymptomatic individuals. We found that as early as middle age, nondemented carriers of the varepsilon4 allele of the APOE gene showed deficits when visual attention was spatially directed by cues in tasks of visual discrimination and visual search, in comparison to those without the epsilon4 allele (epsilon2 and epsilon3 carriers). Two component attentional operations were selectively affected: (i) shifting spatial attention following invalid location cues, and (ii) adjusting the spatial scale of attention during visual search. These changes occurred only in the presence of the epsilon4 allele and without decline in other aspects of attention (vigilance), memory, or general cognition. The results show that specific components of visual attention are affected by APOE genotype and that the course of cognitive aging is subject to selective alteration by a genetic trait.     

Presence of apolipoprotein E epsilon4 allele predisposes to early onset of primary Sjogren's syndrome

BACKGROUND: Apolipoprotein E (apoE) polymorphism plays a central role in lipid metabolism, but has recently also been suggested to regulate inflammation, as judged by levels of serum C-reactive protein (CRP). OBJECTIVE: To establish whether polymorphism of the apoE genes affects susceptibility to primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS), degree of inflammation or age of onset of pSS. METHODS: ApoE genotype distribution and allelic frequencies were analysed using PCR and the TaqMan system in 63 Finnish Caucasian patients with pSS and in 64 healthy controls matched for sex, ethnic origin and area of residence. The clinical and immunological data on the pSS patients were analysed in relation to the apoE genotypes. RESULTS: There was no difference between pSS patients and controls in apoE genotype and allelic frequencies. The apoE epsilon4 allele was significantly associated with early onset of pSS in the entire population and in female patients (Kaplan-Meier log rank test, P = 0.0407 and P = 0.0168, respectively). The average age (+/- S.D.) of onset of pSS in all apoE epsilon4 allele carriers was 46 +/- 12 and in other genotypes it was 53 +/- 10 yr (P = 0.031, t-test). ApoE polymorphism was not associated with signs of inflammation evaluated by such markers as concentration of plasma CRP, plasma interleukin-6, plasma TNF-alpha, immunoglobulin G and haemoglobin, or leucocyte count or ESR. CONCLUSIONS: ApoE polymorphism does not affect susceptibility to pSS or levels of plasma inflammatory indices in patients with pSS. However, a clear association prevails between apoE epsilon4 and early onset of pSS.     

Large-scale evidence that the cardiotoxicity of smoking is not significantly modified by the apolipoprotein E epsilon2/epsilon3/epsilon4 genotype

Results from two small studies, involving a total of only 174 cases, have suggested that the increased risk of coronary heart disease conferred by cigarette smoking is substantially affected by genotype at the apolipoprotein E (APOE) epsilon2/epsilon3/epsilon4 polymorphism. We have established APOE genotypes in 4484 patients with acute myocardial infarction diagnosed before the age of 55 years for male and 65 years for female patients, and in 5757 controls with no history of cardiovascular disease. On average, the hazard ratio for myocardial infarction was 1.17 (95% CI 1.09-1.25; p<0.00001) per stepwise change from epsilon3/2 to epsilon3/3 to epsilon3/4 genotype. Among individuals in this study with known cigarette smoking status, the hazard ratio for myocardial infarction in smokers versus non-smokers was 4.6 (4.2-5.1). There was, however, no significant difference between the smoker/non-smoker hazard ratios for those with different APOE genotypes (chi2(2)=0.69; p=0.7). When differences in risk between different genotypes are not extreme (as with this APOE polymorphism), reliable assessment of hypothesised gene-environment interactions will often require the study of many thousands of disease cases.     

载脂蛋白E基因多态性与脑梗死的关系

目的探讨载脂蛋白E（apoE）基因多态性与中国东北汉族人脑梗死的关系.方法选择中国东北汉族人140例,其中72例为脑梗死患者（脑梗死组）,68例为健康体格检查者和因肛肠疾病住院的患者（对照组）.采用聚合酶链反应-限制性片段长度多态性（PCR-RFLP）技术,检测所有患者apoE基因多态性;一步法测定70例脑梗死患者的血脂含量.结果对照组和脑梗死组apoE基因型均以ε3ε3多见,分别为67.6%、72.2%（P＞0.05）.未见ε4ε4.两组ε2ε2、ε2ε3、ε2ε4、ε3ε4基因型频率（对照组为2.9%、13.2%、0%和16.2%,脑梗死组为2.8%、15.3%、2.8%和6.9%）和等位基因ε2、ε3、ε4频率（对照组为9.6%、82.4%和8.1%,脑梗死组为11.8%、83.3%和4.9%）,差异无显著性,P＞0.05.各基因型脑梗死患者血浆总胆固醇、三酰甘油、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（HDL-C）和低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL-C）含量无显著差异（P＞0.05）.结论在中国东北汉族人中,未发现apoE基因多态性与脑梗死相关,亦未发现apoE基因多态性与脑梗死患者血浆总胆固醇、三酰甘油、HDL-C和LDL-C之间相关.     

Lipoprotein (a) and apolipoprotein E epsilon 4 as independent risk factors for ischemic stroke

BACKGROUND: Controversies exist concerning the association between serum lipids and ischemic stroke. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between serum lipid, apolipoprotein E (apoE) genotype and risk of ischemic stroke. METHODS: We measured the concentrations of serum lipids, lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)], and apoE genotype, as well as the distribution of other potential risk factors, in 90 pairs of age- and sex-matched ischemic stroke patients and stroke-free controls. RESULTS: The prevalence of hypertension, family history of stroke and hypertension, and smoking and drinking habits were significantly higher in cases than in controls. Total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and Lp(a) levels were higher in ischemic stroke patients than in controls (5.7 +/- 1.2 versus 5.3 +/- 1.2 mmol/l, P < 0.05; 3.7 +/- 1.0 versus 3.1 +/- 1.0 mmol/l, P < 0.01; and 197.6 +/- 30.6 versus 90.4 +/- 11.2 mg/l, P < 0.01, respectively). The cases had lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-1 concentrations compared with the controls. The apoE epsilon 3/epsilon 4 genotype was more frequent in cases (21.1%) than in controls (8.9%, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of the study indicate that serum Lp(a) level and apoE epsilon 4 are the prominent lipidic predictors for ischemic stroke in addition to the general risk factors such as history of hypertension, family history of stroke and cigarette smoking.     

载脂蛋白E基因多态性与脑血管病的关系

目的　探讨载脂蛋白 E ( APOE)基因多态性与脑血管病 ( CVD)的关系。方法　应用聚合酶链反应—限制性长度多态性技术 ( PCR-RFLP) ,检测 30例脑出血 ( CH)及 6 3例脑梗死 ( CI)患者的 APOE基因型 ,并与 6 6名同龄健康对照组比较。结果　 CH组 APOE基因型ε4及ε4携带者的频率明显高于对照组 ( P<0 .0 5 ) ,ε3及ε3/3频率显著低于对照组 ( P<0 .0 1 ) ;CI组 APOE基因型 ε3/4明显高于对照组 ( P<0 .0 5 )。结论　 APOE基因 ε3/4与 CI的发生相关 ,等位基因 ε4可能是 CVD的一种遗传易感因子 ,ε3/3可能与 CVD的保护有关。     

冠心病病变范围与载脂蛋白E基因多态性及血脂分布的关系

目的 :探讨冠心病 (CHD)病变范围与载脂蛋白E(apoE)基因多态性及血脂分布的关系。 方法 :用酚氯仿抽提核酸法从凝血块中分离DNA ,用多聚酶链式反应 限制性片段长度多态性 (PCR RFLP)方法对新疆乌鲁木齐地区维、汉两民族人群中 10 2例CHD患者和 5 1例对照组人群进行apoE基因多态性 (由ε2、ε3和ε4决定的E2 / 2、E3/ 3、E4 / 4、E4 / 2、E4 / 3和E3/ 2 )HhaI酶切研究。结果 :①CHD组apoE之ε2 ,ε3和ε4等位基因频率分别为 0 .0 735± 0 .2 15 7,0 .774 5± 0 .3117和 0 .15 2 0± 0 .2 4 16 ,1支病变组apoE之ε2 ,ε3和ε4等位基因频率分别为 0 .10 6 1± 0 .2 4 2 3,0 .75 76± 0 .35 6 2和 0 .136 4± 0 .2 2 6 1,2支病变组apoE之ε2 ,ε3和ε4等位基因频率分别为 0 .0 5 5 6± 0 .1992 ,0 .80 5 6± 0 .2 995和 0 .1389± 0 .2 5 6 7,3支病变组apoE之ε2 ,ε3和ε4等位基因频率分别为 0 .0 6 0 6± 0 .2 0 76 ,0 .75 76± 0 .2 82 9和 0 .1818± 0 .2 4 4 3,与正常对照组 (0 .196 1± 0 .30 13,0 .6 6 6 7±0 .36 97和 0 .1373± 0 .2 2 5 4 )比较 ,ε2明显减低 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,病变范围越大 ,ε2越低 ,但病变范围大小之间统计学无差异 ,ε3和ε4随着病变范围增大逐渐升高但统计学无显著差别 (P >0     

Association between apolipoprotein E4 and cognitive decline in elderly adults

OBJECTIVE: To determine the influence of apolipoprotein E on cognitive decline in a cohort of elderly men and women. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Scotland, Ireland, and the Netherlands. PARTICIPANTS: Five thousand eight hundred four subjects aged 70 to 82 from the Prospective Study of Pravastatin in the Elderly at Risk (PROSPER). MEASUREMENTS: Subjects were assessed at baseline and over a mean 3.2‐year (range 0.7–4.2) follow‐up for memory (Picture‐Word Recall), speed of information processing (Stroop and Letter‐Digit Coding), global cognitive function (Mini‐Mental State Examination), and activities of daily living. RESULTS: At baseline, subjects with apolipoprotein E₄ versus those without E₄ had poorer memory performance (mean score difference ?0.20 (95% confidence interval (CI)=?0.31 to ?0.09) for immediate recall and ?0.32 (95% CI=?0.48 to ?0.16) for delayed recall and slower information processing (difference in Stroop, 2.79 seconds, (95% CI=1.20–4.28); Letter‐Digit score, ?0.36, (95% CI=?0.77–0.05). Subjects with apolipoprotein E₄ showed a greater decline in immediate (?0.22, 95% CI=?0.33 to ?0.11) and delayed (?0.30, 95% CI=?0.46 to ?0.15) memory scores but no significant change in speed of information processing (Stroop, P=.17; Letter‐Digit, P=.06). Memory scores decreased 2.5% from baseline in those without E₄, 4.3% in E₄ heterozygotes (P=.01 for immediate and P=.03 for delayed, vs no E₄) and 8.9% to 13.8% in E₄ homozygotes (P=.04 for immediate and P=.004 for delayed, vs heterozygotes). Apolipoprotein E₄ was associated with greater decline in instrumental activities of daily living (P<.001). Cognitive decline was not associated with lipoprotein levels. CONCLUSION: Findings in PROSPER indicate that E₄ is associated with more‐rapid cognitive decline and may, therefore, predispose to dementia.     

The joint effect of apolipoprotein E epsilon4 and MRI findings on lower-extremity function and decline in cognitive function

BACKGROUND: Cognitive decline and poor physical function are risk factors for disability in old age and may occur more often in subjects with the apolipoprotein E epsilon4 (ApoE-epsilon4) allele. The objective of this study was to investigate the joint effect of ApoE-epsilon4 and structural changes detected on MRI brain scans on cognitive decline and lower-extremity function. METHODS: Brain MRI (1.5 T), neuropsychological tests, and lower-extremity physical function tests were administered to World War II male veteran twins ages 69 to 80. Quantification of MRI scans used a previously published algorithm to segment brain images into total cerebral brain (TCB), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and white-matter hyperintensity (WMH) volumes. A short battery of physical performance tests was used to assess lower-extremity function. Ten-year changes in performance on the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE), the Benton Visual Retention Test (BVRT), and the Digit Symbol Substitution (DSS) test were used to assess cognitive decline. RESULTS: For the sample as a whole, the comparison of subjects by median split of total cerebral brain volume found that those with brain volumes below the median performed worse on tests of gait and balance (p < .01) and experienced greater cognitive decline on the MMSE and BVRT cognitive test batteries (both p < .01). In addition, subjects with WMH volumes above the median had poor performance on the standing balance tasks and experienced greater decline on the DSS test (p < .01). Stratified analyses revealed that the joint effect of radiological findings and the ApoE-epsilon4 allele on cognitive decline and lower-extremity function was often greater than that expected from the separate effects combined. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that radiological findings in conjunction with ApoE-epsilon4 may single out a group at higher risk for dementia. We speculate that the observed interaction effect may be due to increased susceptibility to brain injury or impaired repair mechanisms in subjects with ApoE-epsilon4.     

Familial hypercholesterolemia and apolipoprotein E4

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the relationship between two genetic factors associated with raised blood cholesterol, i.e. familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and apolipoprotein (apo) E4. A group of 50 unrelated heterozygous FH patients aged 33-71 years were studied together with 129 normolipidemic subjects. A significantly higher frequency of apo E4 phenotypes was found in FH patients (30.0%) than in normolipidemic subjects (15.5%). FH patients were divided into two groups with and without apo E4. Plasma total cholesterol (Chol) and triglyceride (TG) levels were significantly higher, and plasma low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-Chol) level tended to be higher in FH patients with apo E4 than in those without apo E4. In addition, the prevalence of ischemic heart disease (IHD) was significantly higher in FH patients with apo E4 (73.3%) than in those without apo E4 (31.4%). No significant difference was noted in age and in the prevalence of obesity, diabetes, hypertension and smoking between the FH groups with and without apo E4. These results suggest that apo E4 is associated with higher levels of total Chol and TG and, at least in part, contributes to the predisposition to IHD in FH.     

Apolipoprotein E gene epsilon2/epsilon3/epsilon4 polymorphism and myocardial infarction: case-control study in a large population sample

It has not been clearly established yet whether the epsilon2/epsilon3/epsilon4 polymorphism of the gene encoding apolipoprotein E is associated with myocardial infarction. We addressed this issue in a large case-control sample and found no statistically significant relationship between the epsilon2/epsilon3/epsilon4 polymorphism and myocardial infarction. The epsilon2 allele and epsilon2epsilon3 genotype showed trends towards lower risks of myocardial infarction than the epsilon3epsilon3 genotype.     

Synergistic effects of apolipoprotein E gene epsilon polymorphism and some conventional risk factors on premature ischaemic heart disease development

BACKGROUND: Ischaemic heart disease (IHD), which is a clinical manifestation of atherosclerotic changes in coronary arteries, results from the action of multiple genetic and environmental factors. Genetic susceptibility to IHD may be determined by specific polymorphic variants of genes encoding isoforms involved in processes important in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Due to the multifactorial nature of IHD, participation of a single polymorphism in the determination of the disease risk is relatively small. However, it seems that its significance may increase in the presence of a specific genetic or environmental background. AIM: To evaluate a possible association between the epsilon polymorphism of the apolipoprotein E gene (apo E) and premature IHD in the Polish population as well as to determine whether the genotype may modulate the influence of conventional risk factors on IHD. METHODS: We studied 247 caucasian subjects: 140 patients with angiographically confirmed IHD and 107 blood donors without a history of IHD. Polymorphism epsilon of the apo E gene was genotyped using the PCR-RFLP method. RESULTS: We observed a tendency to a higher prevalence of the epsilon4 allele and carriers of this allele in the IHD group compared to controls. However, these differences were not statistically significant. We also observed a synergistic effect between epsilon4 allele carrier state and smoking, elevated level of total cholesterol and, to a lower degree - LDL cholesterol, on IHD risk. CONCLUSION: Presented data show the synergistic effects between epsilon4 allele carrier state and some traditional risk factors on determining the risk of premature coronary artery disease.     

载脂蛋白E基因多态性与冠心病关系的研究

目的：探讨载脂蛋白Ｅ（ａｐｏＥ）基因多态性在冠心病（ＣＨＤ）发生发展中的作用及其对血脂质、脂蛋白水平的影响。方法：应用聚合酶链反应技术和遗传学方法,测定９３ 例ＣＨＤ患者和９４例正常对照者的ａｐｏＥ基因型;按常规方法测定血浆脂质、脂蛋白水平。结果：共发现５ 种ａｐｏＥ基因型,分别为Ｅ３／３、Ｅ３／２、Ｅ４／３、Ｅ４／２和Ｅ４／４。ＣＨＤ组ａｐｏＥ４／３ 基因型和ε４ 等位基因频率及总胆固醇（ＴＣ）、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（ＬＤＬ－Ｃ）均显著高于对照组（均Ｐ＜ ０．０１）,ａｐｏＡＩ的水平高于对照组（Ｐ＜ ０．０５）,其他血脂指标无显著性差异（ Ｐ＞ ０．０５）。在ＣＨＤ组各亚型之间,ＴＣ、ＬＤＬ－Ｃ和ａｐｏＡＩ水平之间存在显著性差异（Ｐ＜ ０．０５）。结论：ａｐｏＥε４ 等位基因是ＣＨＤ重要的遗传易患因素,ａｐｏＥ基因多态性亦影响血ＴＣ、ＬＤＬ－Ｃ和ａｐｏＡＩ水平。     

载脂蛋白E内含子1内增强子多态性与散发性Alzheimer病的关系

目的 探讨载脂蛋白Ｅ（ａｐｏＥ）增强子元件基因多态性与散发性Ａｌｚｈｅｉｍｅｒ病（ＡＤ）的关系。方法 应用聚合酶链反应－限制性片段长度多态性（ＰＣＲ－ＲＦＬＰ）技术检测ａｐｏ内含子１内增强子元件（ＩＥ１）基因型。结果 散发性ＡＤ组（ｎ＝４２）ａｐｏＥ ＩＥ１ Ｇ／Ｇ基因型频率０．５９５,而对照组（ｎ＝１０８）则为０．３９８,散发性ＡＤ组显著高于对照组（Ｐ〈０．０５）。Ｇ／Ｇ基因型个体患ＡＤ风险为Ｇ     

阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征患者载脂蛋白E基因多态性分析

目的 探讨载脂蛋白E(apoliporotein E,ApoE)基因多态性与阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征(obstructive sleep apnea hyopnea syndrome,OSAHS)之间的关系.方法 选取经多导睡眠仪确诊的84例无亲缘关系的OSAHS患者(OSAHS组)和排除OSAHS的106位正常人群(正常对照组),采用聚合酶链反应限制性片段长度多态性方法,检测两组ApoE基因多态性的基因型,同时检测两组血清甘油三脂(TG)、总胆固醇(TC)、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)水平和体质量指数,分析基因型分布、等位基因频率差异、不同等位基因与OSAHS患者血脂水平的关系.结果 OSAHS组ApoEε4等位基因频率明显高于正常对照组,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.01);携带ApoEε4等位基因的OSAHS组患者睡眠呼吸暂停指数高于携带ApoEε3等位基因的OSAHS组患者,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.01);携带ApoEε4等位基因的OSAHS组患者TC水平高于携带ApoEε2和ApoEε3组,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.01).OSAHS组患者TG、LDL-C高于正常对照组,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论 OSAHS发病与ApoE基因多态性相关联,ApoEε4等位基因町能是OSAHS发病的危险因素.OSAHS患者存在血脂代谢紊乱,携带ApoEε4等位基因的OSAHS患者血清胆固醇升高更明显.