Author/Authors :
T. Al-Majed, Hana Department of Applied Medical Sciences - College of Health Sciences - Public Authority for Applied Education and Training-PAAET, Kuwait , A. Qasem, Jafar Department of Applied Medical Sciences - College of Health Sciences - Public Authority for Applied Education and Training-PAAET, Kuwait , K. Al-Sherifi, Ahmed Department of Applied Medical Sciences - College of Health Sciences - Public Authority for Applied Education and Training-PAAET, Kuwait , A. Al-Attar, Abdulnabi Al-Amiri Hospital - Diabetic Clinic - Ministry of Health, Kuwait , A. Qasem, Abdulla Al- Sabah Hospital - Ministry of Health, Kuwait , A. Abdullah, Salwa Department of Applied Medical Sciences - College of Health Sciences - Public Authority for Applied Education and Training-PAAET, Kuwait
Abstract :
Background: We investigated the association between apolipoprotein E polymorphism and ischemic heart disease with or without type 2
diabetes in Kuwait and examined the impact of apolipoprotein E polymorphism in diabetic patients.
Methods: The present study was conducted from January 2005 to June 2006 in the Diabetic Clinic of Al-Amiri and Al-Sabah Hospitals in Kuwait
City. Apolipoprotein E polymorphism was assessed in 250 subjects of which 83 were ischemic heart disease patients (41 diabetic and 42
non-diabetic) and 105 were diabetic patients without ischemic heart disease. Results were compared with 62 healthy controls. Apolipoprotein
E polymorphisms were detected by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism.
Results: Apolipoprotein E3 allele was the most commonly occurring form. The frequency of apolipoprotein E4 was higher in ischemic heart
disease patients with type 2 diabetes (39%) and the non-diabetic (31%) group, but lower in the diabetic (20%) and control groups (16%).
Conclusion: Apolipoprotein E4 allele may be related to the development of ischemic heart disease in patients with or without type 2 diabetes
in Kuwait. However, future studies with larger population sizes are needed to establish such relationship.
Keywords :
apolipoproteins E , diabetes mellitus, type 2 , genotype , Kuwait , myocardial ischemia
