SHORT REPORT

Influence of APOE polymorphism on cognitive and behavioural outcome in moderate and severe traumatic brain injury

M Ariza¹, R Pueyo¹, M del M Matarín¹, C Junqué², M Mataró¹, I Clemente², P Moral³, M A Poca⁴, Á Garnacho⁵, J Sahuquillo⁴

¹ Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychobiology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
² Biomedical Research Institute August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona
³ Department of Animal Biology, University of Barcelona
⁴ Department of Neurosurgery, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona
⁵ Neurotraumatology Intensive Care Unit, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona

Correspondence to:
Dr M Ariza
Departament de Psiquiatria i Psicobiologia Clínica, Universitat de Barcelona, Passeig de la Vall d’Hebron, 171, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; marizago7{at}docd4.ub.edu

Aim: To analyse the influence of apolipoprotein (APOE) 4 status on the cognitive and behavioural functions usually impaired after moderate and severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Methods: In all, 77 patients with TBI selected from 140 consecutive admissions were genotyped for APOE. Each patient was subjected to neuropsychological and neurobehavioural assessment at least 6 months after injury.

Results: Performance of participants carrying the 4 allele was notably worse on verbal memory (Auditory Verbal Learning Test), motor speed, fine motor coordination, visual scanning, attention and mental flexibility (Grooved Pegboard, Symbol Digit Modalities Test and part B of the Trail Making Test) and showed considerably more neurobehavioural disturbances (Neurobehavioral Rating Scale—Revised) than the group without the 4 allele.

Conclusions: In particular, performance on neuropsychological tasks that are presumed to be related to temporal lobe, frontal lobe and white matter integrity is worse in patients with the APOE 4 allele than in those without it. More neurobehavioural disturbances are observed in APOE 4 carriers than in APOE 2 and 3 carriers.

Abbreviations: APOE, apolipoprotein; apoE, apolipoprotein E; GCS, Glasgow Coma Scale; TBI, traumatic brain injury

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