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Apolipoprotein E alleles in women with pre-eclampsia
N Makkonen1, S Heinonen, M Hiltunen
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kuopio University Hospital, 70211 Kuopio, Finland.
Journal of Clinical Pathology
|July 31, 2001
Summary
Apolipoprotein E (apoE) allele frequencies did not differ significantly between women with pre-eclampsia and healthy pregnant women. These findings suggest apoE does not play a major role in pre-eclampsia development.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Obstetrics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Pre-eclampsia is a serious pregnancy complication.
- Apolipoprotein E (apoE) is a protein involved in lipid metabolism.
- The role of apoE gene polymorphism in pre-eclampsia is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the frequency of apolipoprotein E (apoE) alleles (epsilon 2, epsilon 3, epsilon 4) in women with pre-eclampsia.
- To compare these frequencies with those in healthy pregnant women and the general population.
Main Methods:
- Genotyping of apoE alleles using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism.
- Analysis of two groups: healthy pregnant women (n=91) and women with pre-eclampsia (n=133).
Main Results:
- The frequency of the apoE epsilon 4 allele was similar in women with pre-eclampsia (18.4%) and healthy pregnant women (18.7%).
- Allele and genotype frequencies were comparable to the general population.
- No significant over-representation of any apoE genotype was observed in pre-eclampsia patients.
Conclusions:
- Apolipoprotein E (apoE) allele and genotype frequencies are in equilibrium with pre-eclampsia.
- ApoE does not appear to be a major genetic factor in the development of pre-eclampsia.