title: Low density lipoprotein-cholesterol/high density lipoprotein-cholesterol ratio predicts plaque vulnerability in patients with stable angina.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The relationship between lipid profile and coronary plaque tissue characteristics in patients with stable angina pectoris (SAP) is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between tissue characteristics and lipid profile and predictors of unstable plaques (UPs) in patients with SAP by virtual histology intravascular ultrasonography (VH-IVUS).
  
  
  METHODS
  VH-IVUS was performed for target lesions in patients with SAP (61.7±9.2 years, 174 males, n=266) at the time of coronary angiography. UPs are characterized by thin-cap fibroatheroma, ruptured plaque, or remaining thrombus with VH-IVUS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The present study showed that 34 SAP patients had UPs (61.6±9.2 years, 24 males, 12.8%). The percentage of plaque area in the minimum luminal area in high low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C)/high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio patients was significantly higher than in low LDL-C/HDL-C ratio patients (72.7±9.5% vs. 69.9±9.3%, p=0.035). An LDL-C/HDL-C ratio >2.0 was an independent predictor for UPs in SAP patients (odds ratio 5.252, 95% confidence interval 1.132-24.372, p=0.034).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An elevated LDL-C/HDL-C ratio is a positive predictor for coronary plaque vulnerability in patients with SAP.
authors.affiliation: The Heart Center of Chonnam National University Hospital, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong Hun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Myung Ho
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Young Joon
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Ki Hong
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: In Soo
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yun Ha
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Min Goo
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Keun-Ho
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Doo Sun
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Sim
authors.forename: Ju Han
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Youngkeun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Jeong Gwan
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Jong Chun
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jung Chaee
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Kang