Response to: Lescai F. et al. (2011) J Alzheimers Dis 24, 235-245

We have read with interest the paper of Lescai et al. We were quite surprised by the lack of any reference to a previous study of Bizzarro et al., already reporting these results. In a relative large sample of AD cases from Central and Southern Italy Bizzarro et al. observed a significant association of the -219 (rs405509) polymorphism with AD. Similar, an association of the -219/e4 haplotypes with AD was also reported. Therefore, the study of Lescai et al. in a wide sample of AD patients confirmed the role of the -219 polymorphism as risk factor for AD in Italy and that promoter genotypes and APOE haplotypes might have a complex function as AD-associated genetic risk factors. We feel that the consideration and the evaluation of these results put in the complexity of the discussion of this controversial issue would have been beneficial for the completeness of the published paper and of a major interest for a more analytical information to the readers on the state-of-art on this topic.

Carlo Masullo, MD
Davide Seripa, PhD
Alessandra Bizzarro MD, PhD

Reference:
Bizzarro A, Seripa D, Acciarri A, Matera MG, Pilotto A, Tiziano FD, Brahe C, Masullo C (2009) The complex interaction between APOE promoter and AD: an Italian case-control study. Eur J Hum Genet 17, 938-945.