Abstract
Background
Recently, a relationship between recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) and Apolipoprotein E (Apo E) gene polymorphisms has been proposed. In order to investigate the real association between Apo E polymorphisms and RPL, our meta-analysis was carried out.
Methods
We estimated the association with RPL risk under dominant and recessive models, in combination with the OR and RR with a 95 % confidence interval (CI), which was used to assess the association between RPL and Apo E polymorphisms.
Results
According to our criterion, there were 6 studies included. The dominant model used the E4/E3 group and the OR was 1.919 (95 %CI: 1.016–3.625, I2 = 53.8 %), the RR was 1.308 (95 %Cl: 1.071–1.598) suggesting that carriers of the E4 allele would have a higher risk of causing spontaneous miscarriages. In addition, the OR was 0.727 (95 %CI: 0.566–0.932, I2 = 0.0 %) and RR was 0.923 (95 %CI: 0.867–0.982) in a fixed model for E3/E3 homozygotes versus other genotypes, suggesting that the Apo E3 polymorphism could be a protective factor. The OR was 1.365 (95 % CI: 1.029–1.811, I2 = 0 .0 %) in a fixed model comparing the E2 allele with the E3 allele, suggesting that Apo E2 polymorphisms may contribute to RPL as a risk factor. Furthermore, after conducting sensitivity analysis in the E4/E3 group, the results showed this to be consistent and the OR was 2.249 (95 %CI: 1.474–3.431).
Conclusions
There is a close association between RPL and Apo E gene polymorphisms. For RPL, the Apo E4 polymorphism could be a risk factor, the Apo E3 polymorphism may be a protective factor and the Apo E2 polymorphism may be another potential risk factor.
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Acknowledgement
This study was partially supported by grants from the Guangxi Health department (Gui Wei Zhong 2008035).
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Capsule A close association between Apo E gene polymorphisms and recurrent pregnancy loss was summarized.
Jie Li, Yang Chen and Hongbo Wu contributed equally to this work.
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Li, J., Chen, Y., Wu, H. et al. Apolipoprotein E (Apo E) gene polymorphisms and recurrent pregnancy loss: a meta-analysis. J Assist Reprod Genet 31, 139–148 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-013-0128-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-013-0128-5