title: Levels of non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) in patients with ischaemic heart disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ischaemic heart disease (IHD) is influenced by elevated cholesterol, low density lipoproteins-C (LDL-C), triglycerides and low blood levels of high density lipoproteins (HDL-C). Recently, non-HDL-C has also been suggested as one of the factors involved in IHD. Non-HDL-C is the difference between total cholesterol and HDL-C. Assuming that non-HDL-C levels are raised in IHD, a cross sectional study was designed to evaluate the levels of non-HDL-C in patients of IHD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty adult non-smoking male (age 50 +/- 0.51 years) patients of IHD were compared with 30 adult non-smoking males (47.27 +/- 1.15 years) controls without IHD. A 12 hours fasting blood sample was analysed to determine serum cholesterol and HDL on autoanalyzer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Non-HDL-C was significantly raised (p < 0.001) in patients of IHD when compared to controls. Values of non-HDL-C were 158.00 +/- 4.79 and 127.63 +/- 2.82 (Mean +/- SEM) in patients and controls respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Non-HDL-C contains all known potentially atherogenic lipid particles including LDL-C, intermediate density lipoproteins and very low density lipoproteins cholesterol remnants. Results of this study suggest its possible involvement in IHD. Non-HDL-C is an emerging coronary risk factor. It is a cost effective screening test that may be included in coronary risk profile.
authors.affiliation: Dow Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan. shaheens@cyber.net.pk
authors.forename: Shoaib
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tauheed
authors.forename: Shaheen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shoaib
authors.forename: M Naeem
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: ul Haque
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D002784:Cholesterol