Analyses of interaction effect between apolipoprotein E polymorphism and alcohol use as well as cholesterol concentrations on spontaneous deep intracerebral hemorrhage in the Taiwan population

Abstract

Background To determine the interaction effect between APOE polymorphism and lipid concentrations and alcohol use on spontaneous deep intracerebral hemorrhage (SDICH) risks. Methods We enrolled 217 SDICH patients and 280 controls. Anthropometrics, personal history, and concentrations of total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), and triglyceride were collected. Genotyping was determined by PCR-based restriction and electrophoresis assay. Associations were tested adjusting for multiple covariables. Results Compared with the commonest genotype ε3ε3, ε2ε3 was inversely associated with TC ( p = 0.023) and LDL-c concentrations ( p = 0.005) in women. No APOE–alcohol interaction effect on lipids concentration was found. However, in men, there was a marginal effect of interaction between alcohol and APOE genotype ε2ε3 vs. ε3ε3 on SDICH risks ( p = 0.003), which is independent of TC concentration. In the male non-alcohol group, SDICH proportion was lower in the subjects carrying APOE ε2ε3 (27.6%) than in those with ε3ε3 (41.1%). In contrast, in the male alcohol consumption group, APOE ε2ε3 was associated with a higher SDICH rate (77.8%) compared to ε3ε3 (58.0%). Conclusions Male subjects carrying genotype ε2ε3 tend to have a higher SDICH risk than those who have ε3ε3 when they have alcohol exposure, but may have more benefit from alcohol abstinence.