Abstract:

Objective To evaluate the association of apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene polymorphisms with diabetic nephropathy (DN) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and provide evidence of gene diagnosis of DN. Methods All related literatures on association of Chinese patients with T2DM and ApoE gene polymorphisms were retrieved. ApoE genotype distribution and allele frequency of DN in patients with T2DM (DN group) and non-DN in patients with T2DM  (control group) were analysed and compared through Meta-analysis, and odds ratios (OR) were calculated, respectively. Results A total of 14 literatures were retrieved, and 2 730 patients with T2DM were included, with 1 528 in DN group and 1 202 in control group. Meta analysis revealed that compared with genotype E3/3, genotype E2/3 (OR=1.776，P=0.000) and genotype E3/4 (OR=1.417，P=0.003) were more susceptible to DN, and compared with allele ε3, allele ε2 （OR=1.678，P=0.000）and allele ε4 （OR=1.219，P=0.048） were more susceptible to DN. Conclusion ApoE gene polymorphisms may be associated with DN in patients with T2DM, and genotype E2/3, genotype E3/4, allele ε2 and allele ε4 may be risk factors of DN in Chinese patients with T2DM.

Key words: ApoE, diabetic nephropathy, type 2 diabetes mellitus, Meta analysis