Introduction: One of the genes most studied and associated as a risk factor and prognosis for stroke is apolipoprotein E (ApoE). To date, results associated with ApoE remain controversial.

Objective: To establish the association between ApoE polymorphisms and clinical presentation and functional outcome in ischemic (IS) and hemorrhagic stroke (HS).

Methods: Observational analytical study. Non-probabilistic sampling of consecutive patients over 35 years old with IS or HS without previous neurological disease at a third care center between 2000-2004 were recorded. We analyzed the effect of having the ApoE with respect to the 6-month prognosis on the mRs.

Results: 144 patients with stroke were recorded, 71 patients (49,3%) female and 73 (50,7%) male with a median age of 57 years (17- 93 years). HS occurred on 100 patients  (69,4%) and IS on 44 patients (30,6%).  Above this subgroups the two ApoE isoforms most frequently founded were ApoE 3,3 in 77 (77%) patients for HS and 30 (68,2%) patients for IS group and ApoE 4,3 17 (17%) patients for HS and 9 (20.5%) patients for IS. In regard of functional outcome 136 (94,4%) patients had a favorable outcome.

Conclusion: We found a greater frequency of ApoE 3.3 polymorphism in a mexican population regardless of whether the stroke type. We detected a non-statistically significant tendency for the hemorrhagic type. We did not found any association between ApoE polymorphisms and functional outcome.

ASSOCIATION BETWEEN APOLIPOPROTEIN E GENE POLYMORPHISMS AND CLINICAL PRESENTATION AND FUNCTIONAL OUTCOME IN ISCHEMIC AND HEMORRHAGIC STROKE: EXPERIENCE OF A MEXICAN POPULATION