Purpose: Apolipoproteins C-I, C-II, C-III and E have been associated with risk of arterial thrombotic diseases. We investigated whether these apolipoproteins have prothrombotic properties and are associated with risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE).
Patients and methods: A total of 127 VTE patients and 299 controls were randomly selected from the Multiple Environmental and Genetic Assessment of Risk Factors for Venous Thrombosis study (1999-2004), in the Netherlands. The apolipoproteins were quantified using mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS), and their levels were analyzed as continuous variable (per SD increase).
Results: In controls, increases in levels of apolipoproteins were associated with increases in levels of vitamin K-dependent factors, factor XI, antithrombin and clot lysis time. Additionally, increasing apolipoproteins C-III and E levels were associated with higher factor VIII and von Willebrand factor levels. Levels of C-reactive protein were not associated with any apolipoprotein. The age- and sex-adjusted odds ratios of apolipoproteins E, C-III, CII and CI to the risk of venous thrombosis were 1.21 (95% CI, 0.98-1.49), 1.19 (95% CI, 0.99-1.44), 1.24 (95% CI, 0.95-1.61) and 1.06 (95% CI, 0.87-1.30) per SD increase, respectively. These odds ratios did not attenuate after adjustments for statin use, estrogen use, BMI, alcohol use, and self-reported diabetes.
Conclusions: Levels of apolipoproteins C-I, C-II, C-III and E are associated with those of several coagulation factors. However, whether these apolipoproteins are also associated with an increased risk of VTE remains to be established.
Keywords: cholesterol; coagulation; lipids; proteomics; thrombosis; risk factors.