[From gene to disease; apolipoprotein E2 and familial dysbetalipoproteinemia]

Familial dysbetalipoproteinaemia is an autosomal recessive, hereditary disorder of lipid metabolism caused by mutations in the apolipoprotein E gene. Homozygosity for apoE2 (1 in 170 persons) causes type III hyperlipoproteinaemia in less than 20% of the adult E2 homozygotes. The patients may present with typical skin lesions and have elevated plasma levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, mainly in very-low-density lipoprotein remnants and intermediate density lipoproteins. The disorder is associated with peripheral and coronary artery disease. Additional genetic and environmental factors are necessary for the expression of this hyperlipoproteinaemia. Hyperinsulinaemia and defects in genes involved in the hydrolysis of triglycerides are associated with this disorder.