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Original

APOLIPOPROTEIN E POLYMORPHISM IN SOUTH AFRICAN ZULU WOMEN WITH PREECLAMPSIA

, M.B.Ch.B., , M.D., , , Ph.D., , N.H.D.Med.Tech. & , Dip. Clin. Path.
Pages 309-314 | Published online: 03 Aug 2009
 

Abstract

Objectives: Apolipoprotein E may contribute to the hypertriglyceridemia and consequent endothelial dysfunction of preeclampsia. We carried out a study to determine whether the apolipoprotein E genotype plays any role as a risk factor for preeclampsia in a black South African population with a high incidence of preeclampsia.

Design: A descriptive, prospective study design was used.

Setting: King Edward VIII Hospital, a tertiary care, referral academic hospital in Durban, South Africa.

Patients and Participants: One hundred three South African Zulu women with preeclampsia and 110 healthy normotensive women attending the antenatal clinic were recruited.

Main Outcome Measures: The relationship between the apolipoprotein E allele and genotype frequencies to preeclampsia as well as adverse perinatal outcome.

Results: The frequencies of ε2 and ε4 alleles (0.19 and 0.25, respectively) were much higher than those reported in other population groups. However, there was no significant difference in the apolipoprotein E genotype and allele frequencies between the study and the control groups. The ε2/2 genotype was associated with increased risk of perinatal death (p = 0.047).

Conclusion: The study suggests that, despite the high incidence of both preeclampsia and the ε2 and ε4 alleles in South African Zulu women, apolipoprotein E genotype does not appear to be a risk factor for preeclampsia in this population.

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