Cerebrovascular atherosclerosis in type III hyperlipidemia is modulated by variation in the Apolipoprotein A5 gene

Objective Type III Hyperlipoproteinemia is a rare lipid disorder with a frequency of 1-5 in 5000. It is characterized by the accumulation of triglyceride rich lipoproteins and patients are at increased risk of developping atherosclerosis. Type III HLP is strongly associated with the homozygous presence of the e2 allele of the APOE gene. However only about 10% of subjects with APOE2/2 genotype develop hyperlipidemia and it is therefore assumed that further genetic and environmental factors are necessary for the expression of disease. It has recently been shown that variation in the APOA5 gene is one of these co-factors. The aim of this study is to investigate the development of cerebrovascular atherosclerosis in patients with Type III hyperlipoproteinemia (Type III HLP) and the role of variation in the APOA5 gene as a risk factor.