Association between ApoE4 allele and deep venous thrombosis: a pilot study

Area of Science:

• Genetics
• Vascular Medicine
• Thrombosis Research

Background:

• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a complex condition influenced by genetic and acquired factors.
• Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene polymorphisms are implicated in cardiovascular diseases.
• The association between ApoE gene polymorphism and DVT risk remains underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the frequency of ApoE gene alleles in patients with DVT compared to healthy individuals.
• To determine if ApoE gene polymorphism is associated with an increased risk of developing DVT.

Main Methods:

• Case-control study design.
• Inclusion of 59 consecutive patients diagnosed with DVT.
• Inclusion of 59 age- and sex-matched healthy controls for comparison.

Main Results:

• The E3/E4 ApoE genotype was found in 33.9% of DVT patients versus 10.2% of controls (P = .002).
• Multivariable regression analysis indicated that the E3/E4 genotype is independently associated with a 1.31-fold increased risk of DVT.
• The odds ratio for DVT associated with E3/E4 was 1.31 (95% CI, 1.30-10.48).

Conclusions:

• A significant relationship exists between ApoE3/E4 gene polymorphism and deep vein thrombosis in the Turkish population.
• This pilot study highlights a potential genetic marker for DVT risk.
• Further large-scale studies are recommended to validate these findings and explore the underlying mechanisms.