Objective: This study was to investigate the relationship between genotype of Apolipoprotein E (Apo E) and severity of disability after brain injury as well as serum lipid profile.
Method: One hundred thirty-five brain injured patients (mean age 54.6⁑16.7 years, 90 male and 45 female) were enrolled. There were 34 patients with ischemic Stroke, 61 hemorrhagic stroke, and 40 traumatic brain injury. Apo E genotype was determined by polymerase chain reaction and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The serum concentrations of total cholesterol, triglyceride, and HDL-cholesterol were measured. The outcome of brain injury was assessed by functional independence measure (FIM) scores.
Results: Most frequent Apo E genotype was E 3/3 (72%). In hemorrhagic stroke patients with ε4 allele, FIM score at admission was significantly lower than that of the patients without ε4 allele (p＜0.05). In traumatic brain injury patients with ε4 allele, FIM score change was significantly smaller than that of patients without ε4 allele (p＜0.05). The level of total serum cholesterol was lower in the ischemic stroke patients who have ε2 allele in comparison with the patients without that allele.
Conclusion: The presence of ε4 allele is considered to have relationship with the severity of disability and functional outcome in the patients with brain injury. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2002; 26: 243-248)
