title: Observational study of lipid profile and LDL particle size in patients with metabolic syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The atherogenic lipoprotein phenotype is characterized by an increase in plasma triglycerides, a decrease in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc), and the prevalence of small, dense-low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) particles. The aim of this study was to establish the importance of LDL particle size measurement by gender in a group of patients with Metabolic Syndrome (MS) attending at a Cardiovascular Risk Unit in Primary Care and their classification into phenotypes.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred eighty-five patients (93 men and 92 women) from several areas in the South of Spain, for a period of one year in a health centre were studied. Laboratory parameters included plasma lipids, lipoproteins, low-density lipoprotein size and several atherogenic rates were determinated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found differences by gender between anthropometric parameters, blood pressure and glucose measures by MS status. Lipid profile was different in our two study groups, and gender differences in these parameters within each group were also remarkable, in HDLc and Apo A-I values. According to LDL particle size, we found males had smaller size than females, and patients with MS had also smaller than those without MS. We observed inverse relationship between LDL particle size and triglycerides in patients with and without MS, and the same relationship between all atherogenic rates in non-MS patients. When we considered our population in two classes of phenotypes, lipid profile was worse in phenotype B.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, we consider worthy the measurement of LDL particle size due to its relationship with lipid profile and cardiovascular risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Analysis, University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain. natsancho11@gmail.com
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sancho-Rodríguez
authors.forename: Francisco V
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: Avilés-Plaza
authors.forename: Esteban
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Granero-Fernández
authors.forename: Antonio M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Hernández-Martínez
authors.forename: María Dolores
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Albaladejo-Otón
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martínez-Mernández
authors.forename: Soledad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Parra-Pallarés
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010316:Particle Size; D012307:Risk Factors; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008055:Lipids; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides