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Updated: Jul 20, 2026

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Published on: November 14, 2017
Apolipoprotein E4 genotype increases the risk of postoperative cognitive dysfunction in patients undergoing coronary
R G B Lelis1, J E Krieger, A C Pereira
1Department of Anaesthesiology, Hospital das Clínicas, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil.
Aim:
The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the presence of ApoE4 and the incidence of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) after cardiac surgery.
Methods:
Eighty-seven adult patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery were observed prospectively at a university tertiary care hospital. All patients were evaluated with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) for cognitive function and mental status preoperatively, 24 h after surgery and at postoperative day 6. Patients were genotyped for the ApoE polymorphism. The association between ApoE genotype and MMSE evolution was studied by using repeated measures ANOVA.
Results:
Both the presence of at least one ApoE4 allele and POCD were verified in 21.8% of subjects. The presence of the ApoE4 allele was significantly associated with a worse MMSE score evolution (P=0.04).
Conclusion:
This study suggests an association between ApoE4 and early POCD, but further studies are needed to clarify a causative association. Such new studies should include a more homogenous patient sample and a longer follow-up.
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