Serum levels of apoE were fivefold higher in NS and in FSGS patients than in controls, with a direct correlation with hypercholesterolemia and proteinuria.
The data in the literature support an implication of apolipoprotein E (apoE) in both hyperlipemia and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), a malignant condition associated with NS.
Further studies are needed to clarify the significance of the observed high frequencies of apoE epsilon 4 allele in children with NGD and apoE4/3 phenotype distribution in FSGS.