[Lack of association between the APOE genotype and the response to statin treatment in patients with acute ischemic episodes]. / Ausencia de asociación entre el genotipo de la apolipoproteína E y la respuesta al tratamiento con estatinas en los pacientes con episodios isquémicos agudos.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: APOE genotype has been shown to have an influence on lipid concentrations. However, its relation with response to lipid-lowering treatment is not well established. The aim of our work was to analyze whether this genotype is associated with changes in the lipid profile in response to statins treatment. PATIENTS AND METHOD: A total of 222 consecutive patients with acute ischemic episodes and subjected to treatment with statins were included in a retrospective study. The patients' lipid profile was determined at the first visit to the Lipids Unit and after one year on a statin regime. APOE genotypes were determined by PCR-RFLP, and separated in three groups: E2 (E2 carriers), E4 (E4 carriers) and E3 (E3/E3). E2/E4 patients were not included in the study. RESULTS: Relative frequencies of alleles epsilon2, epsilon3 and epsilon4 were 10.5%, 70.9% and 18.6% respectively. Significant differences among groups (p = 0.039) were observed for c-LDL concentrations. E2 group had lower c-LDL than E3 group (p = 0.017) and E4 group (p = 0.01). No significant differences in c-LDL, c-HDL and c-HDL/CT were observed among the three groups with regard to variation after statin treatment. CONCLUSION: APOE genotype does not significantly affect the lipid response in patients with acute ischemic episodes after statin treatment.

Ausencia de asociación entre el genotipo de la apolipoproteína E y la respuesta al tratamiento con estatinas en los pacientes con episodios isquémicos agudos / Lack of association between the APOE genotype and the response to statin treatment in patients with acute ischemic episodes

Fundamento y objetivo: En diferentes estudios se ha observado que el genotipo de la apolipoproteína E (apo E) influye en la concentración de lípidos. Sin embargo, su relación con la respuesta a los tratamientos con fármacos hipolipemiantes no se ha definido bien. El objetivo de este trabajo ha sido analizar si el genotipo de la apo E está asociado al grado de cambios en el perfil lipídico en respuesta al tratamiento con estatinas. Pacientes y método: Se ha realizado un estudio retrospectivo de 222 pacientes consecutivos con episodios isquémicos agudos a los que se trató con estatinas. El perfil lipídico de los pacientes se determinó en su primera visita a la unidad de lípidos y tras un año de tratamiento. Los genotipos de la apo E se determinaron mediante la prueba de reacción en cadena de la polimerasa y de polimorfismo en la longitud de los fragmentos de restricción, y se separaron en 3 grupos: E2 (portadores de E2), E4 (portadores de E4) y E3 (E3/E3). No se incluyó a los individuos E2/E4. Resultados: Las frecuencias relativas de los alelos *2, *3 y *4 fueron del 10,5, el 70,9 y el 18,6%, respectivamente. Se observaron diferencias significativas entre grupos (p = 0,039) con respecto a la concentración de colesterol unido a lipoproteínas de baja densidad (cLDL). En el grupo E2, el cLDL era menor que en el E3 (p = 0,017) y que en el E4 (p = 0,01). No se observaron diferencias significativas en el cLDL, colesterol unido a lipoproteínas de alta densidad (cHDL) y cociente cHDL/colesterol total con respecto a las variaciones después del tratamiento con estatinas entre los 3 grupos. Conclusión: El genotipo de la apo E no afecta significativamente a la respuesta lipídica al tratamiento con estatinas en los pacientes con episodios de isquemia aguda

Background and objective: APOE genotype has been shown to have an influence on lipid concentrations. However, its relation with response to lipid-lowering treatment is not well established. The aim of our work was to analyze whether this genotype is associated with changes in the lipid profile in response to statins treatment. Patients and method: A total of 222 consecutive patients with acute ischemic episodes and subjected to treatment with statins were included in a retrospective study. The patients' lipid profile was determined at the first visit to the Lipids Unit and after one year on a statin regime. APOE genotypes were determined by PCR-RFLP, and separated in three groups: E2 (E2 carriers), E4 (E4 carriers) and E3 (E3/E3). E2/E4 patients were not included in the study. Results: Relative frequencies of alleles *2, *3 and *4 were 10.5%, 70.9% and 18.6% respectively. Significant differences among groups (p = 0.039) were observed for c-LDL concentrations. E2 group had lower c-LDL than E3 group (p = 0.017) and E4 group (p = 0.01). No significant differences in c-LDL, c-HDL and c-HDL/CT were observed among the three groups with regard to variation after statin treatment. Conclusion: APOE genotype does not significantly affect the lipid response in patients with acute ischemic episodes after statin treatment