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Effect of Apolipoprotein ε4 on Hippocampal and Brain Volume in Intractable Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

Robyn M. Busch, Darlene Floden, Tara T. Lineweaver, Jessica S. Chapin, Kanjana Ungwongse, Tim Wehner, Ramon Diaz-Arrastia, Imad M. Najm

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    This study investigated the relationship between the apolipoprotein ( APOE ) ε4 allele and brain volumes in patients with medically intractable temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). MRI -based volumetric analyses of the hippocampi , cerebral hemispheres, and whole brain were conducted in 59 patients with TLE (31 with left TLE, 28 with right TLE) with hippocampal sclerosis (HS). There were no differences in hippocampal, hemispheric, or whole brain volumes as a function of ε4 status even after correcting for hemispheric and total brain volumes. However, APOE ε4 carriers showed a trend toward having a smaller discrepancy between ipsilateral and contralateral hippocampal volumes than patients without this allele, and post hoc analyses suggest there may be an increased incidence of bilateral HS in ε4 carriers. In summary, APOE ε4 is not associated with significant hippocampal , hemispheric, or whole brain atrophy in patients with medically intractable TLE. However, ε4 carriers may be more likely to have bilateral HS, with an apparent dose-dependent effect.

    Original languageAmerican English
    JournalScholarship and Professional Work - LAS
    Volume21
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    StatePublished - Jan 1 2011

    Keywords

    • Apolipoprotein ε4
    • Hippocampal volume
    • Whole brain volume

    Disciplines

    • Clinical Psychology
    • Psychiatry and Psychology

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