Apolipoprotein E (APOE) plays an important role in lipid metabolism and is a proven risk factor for development of dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases. The aim of the study was to determine the possible connection between particular APOE alleles, blood lipid profile and different types of epilepsy in children. Alleles of the APOE gene, blood cholesterol (total, high-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were analyzed in blood samples of 111 children with epilepsy and 118 age- and sex-matched children without epilepsy. Distribution of APOE genotypes was the same in children of both groups. Significantly increased levels of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol were found in control group (Z=3.49 and 3.52 respectively, p<0.01). No statistically significant difference was found between the genotypes of children with idiopathic and symptomatic epilepsy (χ2=1.96; df=2; p>0.05). There were statistically significant differences in the levels of total cholesterol (Z=2.09; p<0.05) and LDL cholesterol (Z=2.05; p<0.05) according to the type of epilepsy in favor of symptomatic epilepsy. The study confirmed that there was no connection between APOE and type of epilepsy in children and showed the children with epilepsy to have lower total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels. Interestingly, this also held true for children with idiopathic epilepsy compared to those with symptomatic condition.
Keywords: Apolipoprotein E; Brain plasticity; Children with epilepsy; Gene polymorphism; Lipoprotein.