LDL cholesterol estimation using the Anandaraja's and Friedewald's formulas in schizophrenic patients treated with antipsychotic drugs.
OBJECTIVE
The use of new antipsychotic drugs is associated with an increased risk of diabetes and metabolic syndrome, and the routine monitoring of blood lipids during treatment has been recommended. Recently, a new formula for the estimation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol from total cholesterol and triglycerides has been proposed by Anandaraja et al. (Int J Cardiol 2005; 102: 117), and the aim of our study was its evaluation in schizophrenic patients treated with antipsychotic drugs.


METHODS
In 487 serum samples from schizophrenic patients treated with clozapine in polytherapy, the concentrations of LDL cholesterol were determined by agar gel electrophoresis and the formula of Friedewald et al. (Clin Chem 1972; 18: 499), and compared with the results of the Anandaraja's formula.


RESULTS
A higher correlation and lower error of the estimate of the electrophoresis results was found with those of Friedewald (r=0.940, ma68=0.17 mmol/L) than those of Anandaraja (r=0.811, ma68=0.31 mmol/L). Similar results were obtained on making a dichotomy of the patients with and without metabolic syndrome lipid profile. A highly significant correlation was found between the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels and the Anandaraja/Electrophoresis (r=0.817, p<0.001) and Anandaraja/Friedewald (r=0.977, p<0.001) ratios.


CONCLUSIONS
According to our data, Anandaraja's formula tends towards an overestimation or underestimation of LDL cholesterol levels, depending on whether the HDL cholesterol levels are high or low, which may be clinically significant. These results do not support the proposed better accuracy of the Anandaraja's than the Friedewald's formula.
Paz
Eduardo
E
Hospital Psiquíatrico de Conxo, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Hermida
Jesús
J
Bouzas
Lorena
L
Brenlla
Julio
J
Tutor
J Carlos
JC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D003024:Clozapine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D003024:Clozapine