Apolipoprotein E4 polymorphism as risk factor for coronary heart disease among Indian subjects

Apolipoprotein E genotypes and lipid and lipoprotein levels were determined in hypercholesterolemic and angiographically vertified CHD subjects and compared against 90 normolipidemic controls. The ε4 allele was significantly prevalent in the hypercholesterolemic and CHD subjects. Significant increase in total cholesterol levels in apo ε4 containing subjects were observed in the hypercholesterolemic and CHD group. The study suggests that the ε4 allele by influencing the lipid levels could act as a risk factor for CHD.