title: Ratio of remnant-like particle-cholesterol to serum total triglycerides is an effective alternative to ultracentrifugal and electrophoretic methods in the diagnosis of familial type III hyperlipoproteinemia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Familial type III hyperlipoproteinemia (HLP) is characterized by the presence of beta-migrating VLDL (beta-VLDL) and increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Assessment of plasma beta-VLDL is achieved by measuring the ratio of VLDL-cholesterol (VLDL-C) to total plasma triglycerides (TGs) or by detecting beta-VLDL in total VLDL. The objective of this study was to compare the clinical utility of the ratio of remnant-like particle-cholesterol (RLP-C) to total TGs with that of the current methods for diagnosing type III HLP.
  
  
  METHODS
  Detection of beta-VLDL by electrophoresis of VLDL was used to define type III HLP. Twenty-eight patients with type III HLP and 43 subjects lacking beta-VLDL were investigated. Fasting TG concentrations were >2.26 mmol/L in all subjects. Subjects were separated into three groups: group 1, serum total cholesterol </=5.18 mmol/L (n = 11); group 2, total cholesterol >5.18 mmol/L and TGs between 2.26 and 9.04 mmol/L (n = 51); and group 3, TGs >9.04 mmol/L (n = 9).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In group 2, a RLP-C-to-total TG molar ratio >/=0.23 (>/=0.10 when using mg/dL) and a VLDL-C-to-total TG molar ratio >/=0.69 (>/=0.30 when using mg/dL) correctly classified 94% and 90% of the subjects, respectively. The utility of the RLP-C-to-total TG ratio in diagnosing type III HLP decreased in patients in the other two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When used in an appropriate target population, the RLP-C-to-total TG ratio is a convenient and effective alternative to ultracentrifugal and electrophoretic methods for diagnosing type III HLP.
authors.affiliation: Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc., 2440 Research Blvd., Rockville, MD 20850, USA. TAOW@MOCR.OAPI.com
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakajima
authors.forename: E T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Leary
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Warnick
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Cohn
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Hopkins
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Cilla
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Havel
mesh_terms: D001053:Apolipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D002784:Cholesterol; D015243:Cholesterol, VLDL / Q000097:blood; D004586:Electrophoresis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006952:Hyperlipoproteinemia Type III / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*; D014461:Ultracentrifugation
chemical_list: D001053:Apolipoproteins; D015243:Cholesterol, VLDL; D008074:Lipoproteins; D014280:Triglycerides; C112017:remnant-like particle cholesterol; D002784:Cholesterol