title: Small dense low-density lipoproteins and associated risk factors in patients with stroke.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) are a heterogeneous group of particles, with small, dense particles being more atherogenic. It remains controversial whether elevated plasma levels of small dense LDL (sd-LDL) are risk factors for stroke. The aim of the present study was to examine the plasma levels of sd-LDL in patients with stroke and to investigate the associations in a large Chinese case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited 299 stroke patients (159 cerebral thrombosis, 42 lacunar infarction, 98 intracerebral hemorrhage) and 299 controls. The semiquantitative analysis of plasma levels of sd-LDL was performed by nondenaturing gradient gel electrophoresis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  (1) The plasma levels of sd-LDL in patients with ischemic stroke or hemorrhagic stroke were higher than in controls. (2) Multiple regression analysis showed that there were significant relationships between sd-LDL and triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, systolic blood pressure and history of diabetes, and a significant relationship between sd-LDL and stroke (r = 0.286, p < 0.001) even after adjusting for these factors. (3) Compared with the controls, the calculation of odds ratios indicated relative risk estimates of 3.111 for ischemic stroke (OR = 3.111 , 95% CI = 1.891-5.117, p < 0.001) and 3.164 for hemorrhagic stroke (OR = 3.164, 95% CI = 1.632-6.137, p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plasma sd-LDL was independently associated with both thrombotic and hemorrhagic stroke, suggesting it may be an independent predictor of as well as a risk factor for stroke in Chinese people, justifying clinical trials for primary and secondary prevention of stroke using statins or fibrates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Hypertension, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, PR China.
authors.forename: Chun Xia
authors.initials: CX
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Ying Hua
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Qiao
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Pei Hua
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ruitai
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cianflone
authors.forename: Dao Wen
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL