title: Apolipoprotein B assessment for evaluating lipid goals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It is suggested that the apolipoprotein (Apo) B levels are more valuable than LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) levels in assessing cardiovascular risk associated with hyperlipidaemia. However, although non-HDL cholesterol (non-HDL-C) levels are accepted as a secondary objective after achieving LDL-C levels in the guidelines, Apo B has not been recommended as a therapeutic goal yet. The objective of this study was to determine how many of the patients who achieved the LDL-C and non-HDL-C target recommended by the guidelines with a statin therapy achieved the Apo B target.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included a total of 182 consecutive hypercholesterolaemic (119 male, 63 female) patients who were over 18 years of age (mean age: 54.96 +/- 9.27 y) and on statin therapy. Apo B and non-HDL-C levels were determined for the patients who achieved or did not achieve the LDL-C target according to the cardiovascular risk categories defined in the Adult Treatment Panel-III report. Serum Apo B levels were assessed using the nephelometric method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of patients who achieved the LDL-C, non-HDL-C and Apo B target was 63.2%, 79.7% and 72.5%, respectively. All of the patients who achieved the LDL-C target also achieved the non-HDL-C target. It was found that 6 of 115 patients (5.2%) who achieved the LDL-C and non-HDL-C target failed to achieve the Apo B target, whereas 23 of 132 patients (17.4%) who achieved the Apo B target failed to achieve the LDL-C target.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results showed that 95% of patients who received a statin therapy, and achieved LDL-C and non-HDL-C targets also achieved the Apo B target.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Goztepe Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Esra
authors: E
authors: Tekiner
authors: Aytekin
authors: A
authors: Oguz
authors: Mehmet
authors: M
authors: Uzunlulu
authors: Fatih
authors: F
authors: Tekiner
mesh_terms: D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors