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Maternal apolipoprotein E genotype as a potential risk factor for poor birth outcomes: The Bogalusa Heart Study

Journal of Perinatology volume 36, pages 432–438 (2016)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective:

The objective of this study was to assess the association between apolipoprotein E (apoE) genotype and preterm birth (PTB) and small for gestational age (SGA).

Study Design:

ApoE phenotyping was performed on 680 women linked to 1065 births. Allele frequencies were compared and PTB and SGA risk was estimated using log-binomial regression.

Results:

The ɛ2 allele was more common in SGA births (P<0.01). SGA risk was increased among ɛ2 carriers compared with genotype ɛ3/ɛ3, though associations were attenuated following adjustment for maternal age, education, race, smoking and prenatal visits. Stronger associations were observed for term SGA (first birth: adjusted relative risk (aRR)=1.78, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06 to 2.98; any birth: aRR=1.52, 95% CI 0.96 to 2.40) and among whites specifically (first: aRR=2.88, 95% CI 1.45 to 5.69; any: aRR=2.75, 95% CI 1.46 to 5.22).

Conclusions:

Associations between maternal apoE genotype and SGA may represent decreased fetal growth in women with lower circulating cholesterol levels.

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Acknowledgements

Financial support was provided by grants from the National Institutes of Health: R01HL02942, HL15103, HD32194, HD069587, AG1659 and AG041200.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA

    M B Jacobs, E W Harville, T N Kelly, L A Bazzano & W Chen

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  1. M B Jacobs
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  2. E W Harville
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  3. T N Kelly
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  4. L A Bazzano
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  5. W Chen
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Correspondence to M B Jacobs.

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Jacobs, M., Harville, E., Kelly, T. et al. Maternal apolipoprotein E genotype as a potential risk factor for poor birth outcomes: The Bogalusa Heart Study. J Perinatol 36, 432–438 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2016.4

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