Association of ApoE genetic polymorphisms with proximal deep venous thrombosis.

The aim of the current study was to evaluate a possible association between apolipoprotein E (ApoE) genetic polymorphisms and deep venous thrombosis. A case-control study of ApoE genetic polymorphisms was carried out in 60 male and female patients with deep venous thrombosis and 60 male and female controls. The ages of the patients ranged between 23 and 90 years old (mean ± standard deviation: 58 ± 16.56 years) and the ages of the control group, varied between 21 and 56 years old (mean ± SD: 33 ± 10.93 years). Genetic polymorphisms were analyzed in respect to the prevalence of alleles (APOE*2, APOE*3 and APOE*4) and genotypes (APOE*2/2, APOE*2/3, APOE*2/4, APOE*3/3, APOE*3/4 and APOE*4/4). The ε2 allele was more common in patients who had suffered thrombotic events (P = 0.0034). Additionally, there was a significant difference on comparing the distribution of alleles in female patients and female controls (P = 0.027). These results demonstrate an association between the ApoE ε2 allele and deep venous thrombotic events in women. This association opens the possibility of a new line of research to better understand these thrombotic events.