APOE4 and Outcome of TBI:

For the past ten years research has shown, then not shown, an association between comparatively worse outcome in patients with TBI who harbor the APOE4 gene. A meta-analysis (Zhou, W., et al. 2008) showed that the APOE4 gene was significantly associated with poor outcome of TBI six-months after injury but was not associated with the initial severity of brain injury following TBI. There are many difficulties in showing this in the litigation context since genetic testing for this purpose is not well received by treating physicians and many facilities are unwilling to do this type of genetic testing. However, brain injury litigators need to keep trying to screen for this, especially in cases where the patient has a comparatively bad outcome which is being contested by the insurance company.