Plasma oxidized LDL: a predictor for acute myocardial infarction?
OBJECTIVE
Oxidized LDL has been attributed a key role in the development of atherosclerosis. Previous studies have demonstrated increased plasma levels of oxidized LDL in patients with established coronary artery disease. The aim of the present study was to investigate if plasma oxidized LDL also predicts risk for development of coronary heart disease (CHD).


METHODS
We used a nested case-control design to study the association between plasma levels of oxidized LDL and risk for development of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and/or death by CHD.


METHODS
Oxidized LDL was analysed by ELISA in cases (n = 26), controls (n = 26) and controls with LDL cholesterol >5.0 mmol L-1 (n = 26).


RESULTS
Oxidized LDL correlated with total plasma and LDL cholesterol in both cases (r = 0.72, P < 0.01, r = 0.69, P < 0.01, respectively) and controls (r = 0.71, P < 0.01, r = 0.77, P < 0.01, respectively). The oxidized LDL/plasma cholesterol ratio was higher amongst cases (13.5, range 10.7-19.8) than in controls (12.6, range 9.5-15.8, P < 0.05) and hypercholesterolaemic controls (12.2, range 8.0-16.0, P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings identify high plasma oxidized LDL/total cholesterol ratio as a possible indicator of increased risk for AMI.
Nordin Fredrikson
G
G
Department of Medicine, Malmö University Hospital, Lund University, Sweden. gunilla.nordin_fredrikson@medforsk.mas.lu.se
Hedblad
B
B
Berglund
G
G
Nilsson
J
J
D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors
D015415:Biomarkers; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein