RESUMO
AIM: To study an association of the serum level of apolipoprotein E (apo-E) with risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD), blood lipids and that with CHD and carotid artery (CA) atherosclerotic lesion in Kyrgyz men with dyslipidemia. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: One hundred and three Kyrgyz men, including 48 with CHD and 55 without this disease, were examined. A clinical examination was performed and blood lipid composition and serum glucose and apo-E levels were determined. The diagnosis of CHD was established in accordance with the conventional criteria. Whether atherosclerosis was present was determined by ultrasound duplex scanning. RESULTS: Low serum apo-E concentrations were associated with the presence of obesity, the higher blood levels of glucose and triglycerides. There was no correlation with other lipid metabolic parameters and the presence of CHD. A nonlinear relationship was noted between serum apo-E levels and CA atherosclerotic lesion, which was more frequently observed in patients with the apo-E level in the lower and upper quartiles. CONCLUSION: Low serum apo-E content is a poor factor and associated with obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, elevated serum glucose levels, and the development of CA atherosclerosis.
