Objective To study the relationship of the apolipoprotein (apo) E with coronary heart disease (CHD).

Methods We studied 68 patients with CHD and 59 control subjects without CHD. Polymorphism of ApoE alleles were measured by PCR, Hhal enzyme digestion and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

Results TC, TG, LDL-c, apoB, LP (a) level of CHD group were higher than control (p<0.05); There were significant differences in gene frequency of apo E alleles between CHD and control group but HDL, ApoA1 level of CHD group were lower than control; when compared between the E3 and the E4, the E2 frequency were related with CHD (RR=3.5611, 95% CI 1.1693 to 6.8963, p<0.01).

Conclusion ApoE gene polymorphisms affects serum TC, LDL-C, apoB and LP (a) levels in CHD and apoE allele E2 is a risk factor in the occurrence of CHD.