Journal article

The Apolipoprotein E ϵ4 Allele is not Associated With Cognitive Dysfunction in Cardiac Surgery

BS Silbert, LA Evered, DA Scott, TF Cowie

Annals of Thoracic Surgery | Published : 2008

Abstract

Background: The plasma protein apolipoprotein E (APOE) is a risk factor for degenerative cognitive decline manifested by mild cognitive impairment and later by Alzheimer's disease. Patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) are known to have a high prevalence of preexisting cognitive impairment and postoperative cognitive dysfunction. Because both mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease generally occur in elderly individuals, the age group that commonly present for CABG, we investigated if the APOE ε{lunate}4 allele was associated with patients manifesting preexisting cognitive impairment and postoperative cognitive dysfunction. Methods: The DNA of 282 patients who ..

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