title: Apolipoprotein measurements: is more widespread use clinically indicated?
abstract: Apolipoprotein (apo) B may be a more sensitive measure of atherogenicity than low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and a better index for assessing cardiovascular risk. The refined risk assessment provided by apo B may be important in patients at high cardiometabolic risk such as those with diabetes mellitus or metabolic syndrome, as these conditions are often associated with normal LDL-C values but increased numbers of small, dense low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles (indicating increased levels of apo B). Although apo B is not currently a treatment target in the United States cholesterol-lowering guidelines, a consensus conference endorsed by the American Diabetes Association and the American College of Cardiology recently recommended that apo B be added as a therapeutic target in patients at high cardiometabolic risk and in patients with clinical cardiovascular disease or diabetes. Suggested target goals are < 90 for high risk and < 80 mg/dL for highest risk patients. Current clinical data indicate that intensive statin therapy can lower apo B to meet this aggressive goal. While the proatherogenic/antiatherogenic ratio of apo B/apo A-I is a better risk discriminator than the single proatherogenic measurement (apo B), clinical trial data are lacking regarding the impact of increasing apo A-I and high-density lipoprotein on outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Preventive Cardiology Center, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA. michaeldavidson@radiantresearch.com
authors.forename: Michael H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Davidson
mesh_terms: D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000097:blood*; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: C505693:APOA1 protein, human; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D015415:Biomarkers; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors