ApoE Plasma Levels And Risk Of Cardiovascular Mortality In Old Age

Main Category: Cardiovascular / Cardiology
Also Included In: Seniors / Aging;  Blood / Hematology
Article Date: 13 May 2006 - 8:00 PDT

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Studying 561 patients who were 85 years and older, Simon Mooijaart and colleagues (from Leiden University Medical Center) found that, at least in old age, high apoE concentrations in the blood were associated with an increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease. ApoE is a protein present in the blood that influences how cholesterol and other fats are made and removed from the body. ApoE can also have an effect on inflammation.

All patients gave blood samples within a month after their 85th birthday and then every following year within a month of their birthday. Within the five years of the study, 159 participants died, 68 of them from cardiovascular disease.

The researchers found that those patients who had high levels of apoE in their blood at age 85 had a higher risk of later death from cardiovascular disease. This higher risk was independent of which version of the APOE gene the patients had. It was also independent of their lipid levels (including cholesterol) and other known risk factors such as smoking and diabetes.

Citation: Mooijaart SP, Berbée JFP, van Heemst D, Havekes LM, de Craen AJM, et al. (2006) ApoE plasma levels and risk of cardiovascular mortality in old age. PLoS Med 3(6): e176. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.0030176

PLEASE ADD THE LINK TO THE PUBLISHED ARTICLE IN ONLINE VERSIONS OF YOUR REPORT: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.0030176

CONTACT:
Simon Mooijaart
Leiden University Medical Center
Gerontology and Geriatrics
PO Box 9600
Leiden, 2300 RC, Netherlands
s.p.mooijaart@lumc.nl

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