APOE ε4 genotype is associated with an earlier onset of chronic temporal lobe epilepsy

Abstract

The authors analyzed the association between APOE ε4 genotype and clinical and MRI findings in 43 refractory temporal lobe epilepsy patients. The distribution of the alleles were normal. Ten patients (23%) had an APOE ε 4 allele and had an earlier onset of habitual seizures (with ε4 5 ± 5 years; without ε4 15 ± 10 years). Quantitative MRI findings were not influenced by the APOE ε4 genotype. APOE ε4 may shorten the latency between an initial injury and seizure onset.