title: Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol/apolipoprotein B ratio may be a useful index that differs in statin-treated patients with and without coronary artery disease: a case control study.
abstract: Low density lipoproteins (LDLs) are heterogeneous aggregations of molecules of different particle sizes, and small-size LDLs are more potent risk factors for atherosclerosis. We examined the qualitative characteristics of LDLs in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) receiving statin therapy. LDL-particle size was estimated based on the LDL-cholesterol/apolipoprotein B ratio (LDL-C/apoB) in 214 age-adjusted men receiving statin therapy. The LDL-C/apoB ratio was significantly lower in the CAD (+) group (n = 107) than in the CAD (-) group (n = 107) (median, 1.17 versus 1.19, P = 0.0095). LDL-C/apoB was significantly lower in patients with serum TG ≥ 150 mg/dL than in those with serum TG < 150 mg/dL, and in patients with serum HDL-C < 40 mg/dL than in those with serum HDL-C ≥ 40 mg/dL (1.06 versus 1.18, P = 0.012; 1.08 versus 1.22, P = 0.0023). Stepwise logistic regression analysis revealed that elevated serum TG was an independent predictor for smaller sizes of LDLs, both in the overall subjects (β : -0.165, P = 0.02)  as well as in the subset with serum LDL-C < 100 mg/dL (β : -0.252, P = 0.011). This study demonstrated that not only the absolute serum LDL-C level, but also the qualitative characteristics of LDL may be monitored for secondary prevention of CAD. Such monitoring is particularly important in patients with elevated serum TG levels, which is associated with smaller sizes of LDL-particles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Nihon University Surugadai Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Shigemasa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tani
authors.forename: Yuuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Takeo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Anazawa
authors.forename: Hirofumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kawamata
authors.forename: Shingo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Furuya
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Iida
authors.forename: Michiaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Takehiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Washio
authors.forename: Narimichi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kumabe
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nagao
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hirayama
mesh_terms: D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D015415:Biomarkers; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors