Apo E allele frequency in primary endogenous hypertriglyceridemia (type IV) with and without hyperapobetalipoproteinemia.

Apolipoprotein E polymorphism is responsible for the existence in the population of six apo E phenotypes determined by three alleles acting at a single gene locus. We have previously reported an enrichment in the epsilon 2 allele and the E2-bearing phenotypes in an unselected sample of subjects with primary hyperlipidemia consisting mainly of endogenous hypertriglyceridemia (Type IV). A study was carried out on 214 Type IV hypertriglyceridemic subjects to determine whether there was the same distribution in subjects with hyperapobetalipoproteinemia as in those without. The study showed that the relative enrichment in the epsilon 2 allele was associated only with Type IV subjects without hyperapobetalipoproteinemia. Since hyperapobetalipoproteinemia is a presumed marker for familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCHL), this finding may provide further evidence that FCHL and familial hypertriglyceridemia, both associated with a Type IV lipoprotein pattern, are truly separate disease entities.