J Korean Soc Pediatr Nephrol.  2001 Oct;5(2):87-99.

Increased Frequency of Apolipoprotein E4 Genotype in Childhood Minimal Change Nephrotic Syndrome (MCNS)

• Kim SD
• Bae YM
• Cho BS
• Cho YW
• Kim IS

Abstract

PURPOSE: We studied to find out apo-E genotype polymorphism in minimal change nephrotic syndrome(MCNS) and IgA nephropathy(IgAN) and to determine the relationship between apo-E genotype and clinical course of MCNS. MATERIALS AND METHOD: 43 MCNS patients and 15 IgAN patients were examined for apo-E polymorphism. 50 healthy blood donors were examined for apo-E genotype as control. Genomic DNA was prepared from peripheral blood leukocytes according to standard procedures.
RESULTS
As compared with control group, e4 allele frequency was significantly increased in MCNS (P<0.01). However, in IgAN e2 allele frequency, however, was 2.6 times higher than normal control (P<0.01). The frequency of e4 allele of frequent relapser group was 4.6 times higher than normal control and was 2 times higher than infrequent relapser group.
CONCLUSION
We think that apo-E typing might be one of the parameters, which should be considered to predict the course of MCNS in children. MCNS with risky HLA profile and E4/4 genotype could indicate the need for a longer steroid dministration. And apo-E genotype needs to be considered for the evaluation of therapeutic responses to other drugs.

Keyword

apolipoprotein E (apo-E); Polymorphism; Minimal Change Nephrotic Syndrome (MCNS); IgA nephropathy (IgAN)

MeSH Terms

Alleles
Apolipoprotein E4*
Apolipoproteins E
Apolipoproteins*
Blood Donors
Child
DNA
Gene Frequency
Genotype*
Humans
Immunoglobulin A
Leukocytes
Nephrosis, Lipoid*
Apolipoprotein E4
Apolipoproteins
Apolipoproteins E
DNA
Immunoglobulin A