Apolipoprotein E polymorphism in South African Zulu women with preeclampsia

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 epsilon2 and epsilon4 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 epsilon2/2 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 epsilon2 and epsilon4 alleles in South African Zulu women, apolipoprotein E genotype does not appear to be a risk factor for preeclampsia in this population.