[Correlation of apolipoprotein AI, apolipoprotein B and their ratio with the severity of cerebral white matter lesions]

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation of apolipoprotein AI (ApoAI), ApoB, ApoB/ApoAI and the severity of brain white matter lesions (WML). METHODS: A total of 648 patients with WML confirmed by brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were divided into mild WML group (n=386) and moderate to severe WML group (n=262) according to evaluations with the Fazekas scale. The demographic data, blood biochemical parameters and the levels of ApoAI, ApoB and ApoB/AI ratio were compared between the two groups to identify the risk factors of moderate to severe WML. RESULTS: Univariate analysis showed that age, gender, hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, previous stroke, homocysteine, HDL-C, ApoAI, and ApoB/AI ratio all differed significantly between the two groups (P < 0.05), but ApoB levels were similar between them (P > 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that with ApoAI and ApoB/AI ratio as the continuous variables, after adjustment for the compounding factors, ApoB/AI ratio was an independent risk factor (OR=11.456, 95%CI: 3.622-36.229, P < 0.001) and ApoAI was an independent protective factor for moderate to severe WML (OR=0.068, 95%CI: 0.018-0.262, P < 0.001). With the upper quartiles of ApoAI level (1.38 g/L) and ApoB/AI ratio (0.58) as their respective cutoff values, patients with a high ApoAI level and a low ApoB/AI ratio were found to have the lowest incidence of moderate to severe WML (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: An increased ApoB/AI ratio is an independent risk factor and an increased ApoAI level is an independent protective factor for moderate to severe WML.