Apolipoprotein Polymorphism in Hyperlipidemia
and Gout
Title: Contribution of polymorphism in the apolipoprotein
AI-CIII-AIV cluster to hyperlipidaemia in patients with gout.
Authors: Cardona et al.
Publication: Ann Rheum Dis. 2005 Jan;64(1):85-8.
Epub 2004 Apr 28.
Studies have shown that hyperuricaemia or high levels of uric
acid in the blood serum is related to insulin resistance syndrome,
and that apolipoprotein AI-CIII-AIV gene cluster is linked to
insulin resistance. The author wanted to see whether there is
any linkage between polymorphism (different forms) of the apolipoprotein
AI-CIII-AIV gene and gout as well as lipid levels.
The authors enrolled 68 subjects with gout and 165 healthy subjects
and measured their plasma cholesterol, trigelycerides, uric acid,
triglyceride, and so forth.
After examining which form of apolipoprotein AI-CIII-AIV these
subjects had, the authors noticed that a particular form of apolipoprotein
(denoted A allele at position -75 bp) was found more frequently
in patients with gout. These patients also had higher levels of
cholesterol, triglycerides, uric acid, basal glycaemia (glucose
level), and HDL cholesterol. The absence of this particular form
of apolipoprotein was linked to increased plasma triglyceride
levels.
The authors concluded that this form of apolipoprotein could
lead to changes in the levels of lipoproteins, which can lead
to gout.