Apolipoprotein E epsilon 4-Positive Multiple Sclerosis Patients Develop More Gray-Matter and Whole-Brain Atrophy: a 15-Year Disease History Model Based on a 4-Year Longitudinal Study
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2010 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Folia Biologica |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Biochemistry |
| Keywords | multiple sclerosis; APOE; brain atrophy; gray matter; MRI; mixed-effect model |
| Description | Multiple sclerosis is a disease with considerable individual variation, and genetic background plays a key role in disease susceptibility and severity. The objective of the study was to evaluate the relationship between apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype and the evolution of different clinical and MRI parameters. We investigated a group of 150 relapsing-remitting patients that completed 4-year follow-up. The mean age was 30.2 years, disease duration 56.8 months, and baseline Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) 1.8. The changes in brain parenchymal volume (BPV), gray matter (GMV), white matter (WMV) and peripheral gray volume (PGMV) were measured by SIENA/X. T2-lesion volume was assessed by semi-automated methods. The mixed-effect model analysis was used to investigate evolution of clinical and MRI parameters in relation to the APOE epsilon 4 genotype considering two different time models: 4-year follow-up and 15-year period from disease onset. We identified 36 APOE epsilon 4-positive patients. Decline of GMV (P = 0.017), and BPV (P = 0.029) were significantly faster in APOE epsilon 4-positive than in APOE epsilon 4-negative patients in the 15-year model. In the 4-year model, a trend for faster decrease of GMV was found in APOE epsilon 4-positive patients (P = 0.067). No differences in other MRI parameters or EDSS were found between the APOE groups. The results of the study suggest that APOE epsilon 4-positive patients experience faster rate of gray matter atrophy. |