LDL-cholesterol/apolipoprotein B ratio is a good predictor of LDL phenotype B in type 2 diabetes.
LDL phenotype B is a component of diabetic dyslipidaemia, but its diagnosis is cumbersome. Our aim was to find easily available markers of phenotype B in a group of type 2 diabetic subjects. We studied 123 type 2 diabetic patients (67.5% male, aged 59.3+/-10.1 years, mean HbA1c 7.4%). Clinical features and fasting total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol (LDLc, using Friedewald's equation and an alternative formula), apolipoprotein B (apoB), lipoprotein (a) and LDL particle size (on gradient polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) were assessed. Patients with phenotypes A (predominant LDL size > or =25.5 nm) and B (<25.5 nm) were compared, and regression analysis was performed to find the best markers of LDL particle. Cut-off points were obtained and evaluated as predictors of phenotype B (kappa index). Patients with phenotype B (36%) showed higher total cholesterol, triglyceride and apolipoprotein B, and lower HDL cholesterol and LDLc/apoB ratio. Triglyceride was the best predictor of LDL particle size (r=-0.632, p<0.01), but an LDLc/apoB ratio below 1.297 mmol/g detected phenotype B best (sensitivity 65.9%, specificity 92.4%, kappa=0.611). Although triglyceride concentration is the best predictor of LDL size in type 2 diabetes, LDLcholesterol/apolipoproteinB ratio is the best tool to detect phenotype B.
Wägner
A M
AM
Endocrinology and Nutrition Department, Hospital de Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma, Antonio M Claret 167, E-08025 Barcelona, Spain.
Jorba
O
O
Rigla
M
M
Alonso
E
E
Ordóñez-Llanos
J
J
Pérez
A
A
D000368:Aged; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010316:Particle Size; D010641:Phenotype; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides