[Electrophoresis and the traditional method for the measurement of lipoprotein cholesterol in serum].
OBJECTIVE
To compare the advantages and disadvantages of electrophoresis with the traditional method in measuring lipoprotein cholesterol in serum.


METHODS
Four lipoprotein cholesterols were determined by the Helena electrophoretic system. Quantification of high density lipoprotein-choleterol(HDL-C) was performed by phosphotungstate-magnesium precipitation or direct HDL-C assay. The concentration of low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) was calculated by F-equation.


RESULTS
Four lipoprotein zones were segregated distinctly by the electrophoretic method. Lp(a) zone appeared only in 6 out of 68 normal samples (8.82%). Reference values of HDL-C, Lp(a)-C, VLDL-C, and LDL-C in serum were 1.16-2.19, 0-0.22, 0.07-0.47, and 1.86-3.46 mmol.L-1, respectively. When comparing the results by electrophoresis with those by the precipitation method for HDL-C, no significant difference was found (P > 0.05); but there was a significant difference between electrophoresis and F-formula calculation for LDL-C (P < 0.05). When comparing results of electrophoresis with the direct method, we found significant differences in both HDL-C and LDL-C (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
F-formula used for calculating LDL-C is not appropriate to clinical application. Electrophoresis allows the quantification of HDL-C, VLDL-C, LP(a)-C, and LDL-C. The method is simple, convenient, and appropriate to routine application.
Wang
Ji-gui
JG
Department of Clinical Laboratory, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China.
Xie
Xiao-shu
XS
D000328:Adult; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D015243:Cholesterol, VLDL / Q000097:blood; D004586:Electrophoresis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017270:Lipoprotein(a) / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D015243:Cholesterol, VLDL; D017270:Lipoprotein(a)