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Small dense LDL-cholesterol determined by a simple precipitation assay for screening familial combined hyperlipidemia

Tsutomu Hirano1, Kyoko Nohtomi, Yoshikatsu Sato

  • 1Department of Diabetes, Metabolism, and Endocrinology, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan. hirano@med.showa-u.ac.jp

Atherosclerosis
|February 10, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCHL) screening can be improved using a simple assay for small dense low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (sd-LDL-C). Elevated sd-LDL-C levels effectively identify individuals with FCHL, aiding in cardiovascular risk assessment.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Clinical Chemistry
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCHL) is the most common genetic lipid disorder.
  • FCHL significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular events.
  • Current diagnostic methods using conventional lipid markers for FCHL are lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the utility of small dense low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (sd-LDL-C) as a diagnostic marker for FCHL.
  • To assess a newly developed simple precipitation assay for sd-LDL-C in serum.

Main Methods:

  • Serum samples from 1661 subjects (1183 males, 478 females) were analyzed.
  • Subjects were stratified into normolipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and combined hyperlipidemia (CHL) groups.
  • A simple precipitation assay was used to measure sd-LDL-C levels.

Main Results:

  • sd-LDL-C levels were significantly higher in the CHL group compared to other lipidemic groups.
  • FCHL cases with a family history of hyperlipidemia showed higher sd-LDL-C than CHL cases without.
  • 94% of subjects with hyperapoB and small LDL particle size were in the top quartile of sd-LDL-C.

Conclusions:

  • The simple precipitation assay for sd-LDL-C is a potentially useful tool for screening FCHL in large populations.
  • Elevated sd-LDL-C levels correlate with FCHL characteristics, including increased apolipoprotein B and small LDL particles.
  • Further research is needed to validate these findings, particularly in female populations due to limited sample size.

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