title: Beyond low-density lipoprotein cholesterol: defining the role of low-density lipoprotein heterogeneity in coronary artery disease.
abstract: Recent clinical trials in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) provide evidence that low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels should be lowered even further to prevent recurrent CAD. However, despite more aggressive interventions for lowering LDL-C levels, the majority of CAD events go undeterred, perhaps related to the fact that intervention was not started earlier in life or that LDL-C levels represent an incomplete picture of atherogenic potential. Nevertheless, LDL-C remains the contemporary standard as the primary goal for aggressive LDL reduction. If triglycerides are >200 mg/dl, the measurement of non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) is recommended. Measurement of apolipoprotein (apo)B has been shown in nearly all studies to outperform LDL-C and non-HDL-C as a predictor of CAD events and as an index of residual CAD risk. This is because apoB reflects the total number of atherogenic apoB-containing lipoproteins and is a superior predictor of the number of low-density lipoprotein particles (LDL-P). Estimates of LDL-P and size can also be made by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, density gradient ultracentrifugation, and gradient gel electrophoresis. Although a number of studies show that such estimates predict CAD, LDL-P, and size often accompany low HDL-C and high triglyceride levels, and therefore such additional lipoprotein testing has not been recommended for routine screening and follow-up. Because apoB is a superior predictor of LDL-P, we recommend that apoB and the apoB/apoA-I ratio be determined after measurement of LDL-C, non-HDL-C, and the ratio of total cholesterol/HDL-C to better predict CAD and assess efficacy of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Preventive Cardiology Center, Baltimore Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: James O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Mudd
authors.forename: Barry A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Borlaug
authors.forename: Peter V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: Brian G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Kral
authors.forename: Rosanne
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rouf
authors.forename: Roger S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Blumenthal
authors.forename: Peter O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Kwiterovich
mesh_terms: D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000097:blood; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000502:physiology*; D010316:Particle Size; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D015415:Biomarkers; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL