The γ e4 allele of the apolipoprotein E gene a a potential protective factor for exudative age-related macular degeneration Original Reearch Article

Purpoe Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) i a polymorphic protein that play a central part in plama metabolim of lipid and in central nervou ytem lipid homeotai. Our purpoe wa to evaluate the potential role of ApoE polymorphim in the occurrence of exudative age-related macular degeneration aociated with druen, which contain lipid. Method We analyzed apolipoprotein E geno-type in 116 unrelated patient with exudative age-related macular degeneration in one eye and hard druen (n = 39) or oft druen (n = 77) in the other eye, and compared the reult with thoe of age-matched and ex-matched control ubject (n = 168). Apolipoprotein E allele were detected by a ploymerae chain reaction-baed method. Reult A lower frequency of the γ e4 allele carrier wa oberved in the exudative age-related macular degeneration group compared with control ubject (12.1% v 28.6%, repectively; P < .0009). The ε4 allele wa le frequent in the age-related macular degeneration group compared with control ubject (0.073 v 0.149, repectively; P < .006). Thi decreaed frequency of the ε4 allele wa mainly oberved in the oft druen ubgroup compared with control ubject (0.045 v 0.149, repectively; P < .0009). Concluion Thi lower relative frequency of the ε4 allele upport the hypothei that the ApoE gene i a genetic protective factor identified in age-related macular degeneration.