Apolipoprotein E4 affects serum cholesterol levels but is not a relevant susceptibility gene for cholelithiasis in two high-risk populations

Background & aims: Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) isoforms are genetic determinants of interindividual variations in lipid metabolism. To assess if ApoE is a genetic risk factor for cholesterol gallstone disease, we analyzed ApoE variants in populations from Chile and Germany, two countries with very high prevalence rates of this disease (Völzke et al. Digestion 2005;71:97–105; Miquel et al. Gastroenterology 1998;115:937–946). Methods: ApoE genotypes were determined in Chilean gallstone and control subjects (n=117/122) as well as German gallstone patients (n=184) and matched controls. In addition, we studied ApoE varia…