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Updated: Aug 9, 2026
Calcification of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells and Imaging of Aortic Calcification and Inflammation
Published on: May 31, 2016
APOE alleles are not associated with calcific aortic stenosis
J R Ortlepp1, M Pillich, V Mevissen
1Interdisciplinary Intermediate Care, University Hospital of Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, D-52057 Aachen, Germany. jrortlepp@ukaachen.de
Objectives:
To analyse the association of APOE alleles with aortic stenosis (AS) in a large study population.
Methods:
Patients with AS (n = 538) and a control group of the same age without heart disease (n = 536) were recruited. Left heart catheterisation was performed and mean gradient, aortic valve area, presence of stenotic coronary artery disease (CAD) and cardiovascular risk factors (hypercholesterolaemia, hypertension, smoking, diabetes mellitus and family history of CAD) were assessed. The frequency of the APOE major alleles e2, e3 and e4 was assessed by genotyping the polymorphisms APOE334 and APOE472 with a 5' exonuclease assay (TaqMan).
Results:
Mean gradient across the aortic valve in cases was 50 (SD 20) mm Hg corresponding to a mean aortic valve area of 0.84 (SD 0.34) cm(2). 270 patients with AS had stenotic CAD. Among patients with AS, the prevalence of hypercholesterolaemia (64% v 40%, p < 0.001), smoking (43% v 27%, p < 0.001), diabetes (27% v 17%, p < 0.01), family history of CAD (30% v 21%, p 0.10).
Conclusion:
APOE e4 is not associated with AS, reflecting the different genetic backgrounds of CAD and AS.
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