Comparison of apolipoprotein B and plasma lipids as targets for lipid lowering treatment.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the discrepancies between LDL-cholesterol and apo B targets in patients at risk for vascular disease; namely, those with diabetes or hypertriglyceridemia and those with triglycerides <1.7 mmol/L and normal glucose homeostasis.


METHODS
Lipid clinic patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 consisted of 182 patients whose triglyceride levels were >1.7 mmol/L or who had impaired fasting glucose or type 2 diabetes. In Group 2, there were 42 patients with triglycerides <1.7 mmol/L and normal glucose homeostasis. LDL-cholesterol and apo B were estimated during lipid clinic visits with patients on appropriate lipid lowering therapy.


RESULTS
46% of the patients in Group 1 who reached the high risk LDL-cholesterol target of <2.5 mmol/L did not reach apo B target of <0.9 g/L, while in Group 2, only 19% of those who reached the LDL-cholesterol target had apo B >0.9 g/L.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings demonstrate that a large percentage of patients with hypertriglyceridemia or impaired glucose tolerance, treated with lipid lowering agents, reach the LDL-cholesterol but not the apo B treatment targets.
Vaverkova
Helena
H
3rd Clinic of Internal Medicine, University Hospital and Medical Faculty of Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic.
Frohlich
Jiri
J
Jackuliakova
Dagmar
D
Novotny
Dalibor
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood; D018149:Glucose Intolerance; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D001786:Blood Glucose; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D014280:Triglycerides