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Association of APOE polymorphisms and pathological features in traumatic brain injury
Author(s) -
Smith C.,
Graham D. I.,
Murray L.,
Nicoll J. A. R.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
neuropathology and applied neurobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.538
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1365-2990
pISSN - 0305-1846
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2990.2002.39286_11.x
Subject(s) - apolipoprotein e , pathological , traumatic brain injury , medicine , neuropathology , head injury , incidence (geometry) , brain contusion , pathology , genotype , surgery , biology , psychiatry , disease , genetics , gene , physics , optics
Previous studies have found that polymorphisms of the apolipoprotein E gene (APO E ) influences the outcome from head injury, with possession of APOE ε4 being associated with an unfavourable outcome (Teasdale et al . Lancet 1997; 350 : 1069–1071). In this study we correlated the pathological features of traumatic brain injury with the presence or absence of APOE ε4. Materials and methods: During the 13‐year period 1987–99, 238 brains were examined from cases of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the Department of Neuropathology, Glasgow. APOE genotype was determined by PCR. For each case a number of pathological features were recorded ‘blind’ to the APOE ε4 status. Results: Of the 238 cases examined, 83 (35%) had the APOE ε4 allele, while 155 (65%) did not. Possession of APOE ε4 was associated with a greater incidence of severe hypoxic brain damage (ε4+ 54%, ε4– 42%) and with a greater incidence of moderate or severe contusion index (ε4+ 42%, ε4– 30%). No significant differences were noted between the other pathological features examined. Conclusions: Possession of APOE ε4 is associated with a greater incidence of moderate/severe contusional injury and severe hypoxic brain damage in fatal cases of TBI. This may be relevant to the relatively poor outcome from TBI in patients with an APOE ε4 allele identified in clinical studies.