To study apolipoprotein(apo) E polymorphism and its relationship with plasma lipids and apolipoproteins levels in Chinese patients with type II b hyperlip oproteinemia.apoE genotypes were assayed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method, serum lipids were determined by enzyme method, and apolipoproteins were measured by radial immunodiffusion assay in 74 type II b hyperlipidemia patients whose fasting serum lipids levels were TG > or = 2.26 mmol/L, TC > or = 6.21 mmol/L and in 230 healthy subjects whose fasting serum lipids levels were TG 0.05). In type II b hyperlipidemia group the genotype of apoE2 was associated with higher serum TG, apoC II, apoE levels and apoE/apoC III ratio when compared with the genotype of apoE3; the genotype of apoE4 was associated with higher serum TC, nHDLC and apoE levels when compared with the genotypes E3 and E2 (P < 0.001).The alleles epsilon 2 and epsilon 4 are associated with serum TG, TC, nHDLC, apoC II and apoE levels to some extent in type II b hyperlipide in Chinese population.