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High APOE epsilon 4 allele frequencies associated with Alzheimer disease in a Tunisian population

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Abstract

The goal of the study was to examine the Apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotypes in a Tunisian sample of patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) and normal controls, and to compare the results with the findings from the literature. A hospital-based case–control study of two groups (58 patients with AD, 71 controls) was conducted. Patients received a detailed clinical history, neurological examination, neuropsychological testing and brain imaging. A neurological examination and the Arabic version of the Mini-Mental State Examination were made for controls. Genotyping was performed using the PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR–RFLP) method. There were no statistical differences in age (p = 0.05) and gender (p = 0.046) between the two groups. The APOE ε4/4 genotype was over represented in the AD group in comparison with the controls (13.3 vs. 2.8%). A significant increased risk of AD among APOE ε4 allele carriers was observed. The odds ratio for the association of AD patients with homozygous and heterozygous ε4 allele was, respectively, 5.40 (1.35–21.48) and 2.90 (1.27–6.62). Our results in addition to previously published genetic studies suggest that AD disease is multifactor in origin. Ethnicity, genetic and environmental factors contribute to AD risk in different ethnic groups.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to express our deep thanks to Professor Raj Kalaria for his valuable assistance and article review.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neurological Department, Charles Nicolle Hospital, Boulevard du 9 Avril, 1006, Tunis, Tunisia

    Afef Achouri Rassas, Hela Mrabet Khiari, Hend Batti, Nouria Oudiaa Zakraoui, Aroua Cherif, Nadia Anane, Nadia Ben Ali & Amel Mrabet

  2. Faculté de Médecine de Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia

    Hela Mrabet Khiari & Amel Mrabet

  3. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hôpital d’Enfants, Tunis, Tunisia

    Afef Achouri Rassas, Sondes Hadj Fredj, Safa Sahnoun & Taieb Messaoud

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  1. Afef Achouri Rassas
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Correspondence to Afef Achouri Rassas.

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Rassas, A.A., Mrabet Khiari, H., Hadj Fredj, S. et al. High APOE epsilon 4 allele frequencies associated with Alzheimer disease in a Tunisian population. Neurol Sci 33, 33–37 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-011-0663-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-011-0663-8

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