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Dissection and atherosclerosis of carotid arteries in the young: role of the apolipoprotein E polymorphism
Author(s) -
Orlandi G.,
Fanucchi S.,
Mancuso M.,
Gelli A.,
Rocchi A.,
Siciliano G.,
Murri L.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
european journal of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.881
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1468-1331
pISSN - 1351-5101
DOI - 10.1046/j.1468-1331.2002.00340.x
Subject(s) - genotype , medicine , carotid arteries , cardiology , apolipoprotein e , dissection (medical) , apolipoprotein b , heterozygote advantage , pathology , surgery , cholesterol , genetics , biology , gene , disease
Twenty‐seven young (<50 years old) patients with spontaneous carotid artery dissection in 11 cases and carotid atherosclerosis in 16 cases were evaluated to determine the apolipoprotein E polymorphism. At the DNA analysis the ɛ 3/ ɛ 3 genotype was observed in all patients with dissection, in 13 of 16 (81.2%) patients with atherosclerosis and in 27 of 30 (90%) controls. Three of 16 (18.8%) patients with atherosclerosis and 3 of 30 (10%) controls presented with the ɛ 4/ ɛ 3 genotype, and this difference was not statistically significant. Moreover, observation of the ɛ 4/ ɛ 3 genotype was not significantly higher in patients with atherosclerosis compared with those with dissection. No homozygote ɛ 4/ ɛ 4, ɛ 2/ ɛ 2 or heterozygote ɛ 2 genotype was observed. No correlation was found between the presence of the ɛ 4/ ɛ 3 genotype and vascular risk factors. Therefore, the ɛ 4 allele seems to be involved in carotid premature atherosclerosis development whereas it may appear to be protective for artery dissection occurrence. A larger sample size is needed to support this suggestion.