Article

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the apolipoprotein E4 (Apo E4) allele may be a
genetic risk factor for fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). A retrospective
assessment of associations between Apo E4 genotype and selected environmental
exposures among a cohort diagnosed with FMS compared with control subjects.
SETTING: Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation's Personalized Medicine Research
Project (PMRP) biobank. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred fifty-one case subjects with
fibromyalgia and 300 age- and gender-matched control subjects. METHODS:
Fibromyalgia case subjects were identified according to a strict phenotypic
definition from among the nearly 20,000 subjects enrolled in the PMRP. Age- and
gender-matched control subjects also were identified from the PMRP in a 2:1
control/case ratio. Apo E4 genotype was determined by single nucleotide
polymorphism analysis for both case subjects with fibromyalgia and control
subjects. Case subjects with fibromyalgia and control subjects were asked to
assess their level of function and stress by completing the Short Form-36 and the
Perceived Stress Scale. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Statistical associations between
the Apo E4 genotype and phenotypic criteria (diagnosis of FMS) as well as
historical environmental exposures as documented in the electronic medical record
were assessed. RESULTS: Approximately one quarter of both case subjects with
fibromyalgia and control subjects were found to carry at least one Apo E4 allele.
The odds ratio (OR) for case subjects with fibromyalgia who had ever been in a
motor vehicle accident and subsequently had been diagnosed with FMS was increased
among those with at least one copy of the Apo E4 allele (OR 7.04) compared with
those without an Apo E4 allele (OR 1.90). The presence of an Apo E4 allele did
not influence the degree of pain or level of function among those with FMS.
CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that specific interactions between genetically
susceptible individuals (eg, those with at least one copy of the Apo E4 allele)
and the environment (eg, involvement in a motor vehicle accident) may contribute
to the risk of being diagnosed with FMS, although Apo E4 allele status does not
appear to modulate perceived FMS severity.
CI - Copyright (c) 2011 American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS