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Apolipoproteins as risk indicators of ischemic heart disease

Przeglad Lekarski
|January 1, 1989
PubMed

Insights

Apolipoprotein B (apo B) and related ratios like TC/apo B show promise in predicting coronary risk, even in individuals with normal lipid levels. These markers offer improved accuracy over traditional lipid measurements for cardiovascular risk assessment.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Biochemistry
  • Lipid Metabolism

Background:

  • Coronary risk assessment often relies on lipid levels, but ~50% of at-risk individuals have normal lipid profiles.
  • Apolipoproteins, including apo A1, apo B, and apo E, are emerging as potentially superior indicators of cardiovascular risk.
  • Apo E sialylation is implicated in its metabolism and may be altered in diabetes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the diagnostic validity of apolipoprotein profiles and lipid parameters for predicting coronary risk.
  • To identify reliable markers for coronary risk assessment in both hyperlipidemic and normolipidemic states.
  • To investigate the role of apo E sialylation in diabetes and its potential impact on metabolism.

Main Methods:

  • Studied 64 male myocardial infarction survivors and 60 matched controls (Group I).
  • Selected a subgroup (Group II) with normal total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) for further analysis.
  • Calculated sensitivities, specificities, efficiencies, and predictive values for various lipid and apolipoprotein parameters.

Main Results:

  • Apolipoprotein B (apo B), TC/apo B ratio, and HDL-C/apo B ratio demonstrated suitability for detecting coronary risk.
  • The TC/apo B ratio achieved accurate reclassification of 71-76% of controls and 79% of survivors.
  • Increased apo E sialylation was observed in individuals with insulin-dependent (IDDM) and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM).

Conclusions:

  • Apolipoprotein B and specific ratios involving apo B are effective predictors of coronary risk, outperforming traditional lipid measures in certain populations.
  • The TC/apo B ratio offers a valuable tool for reclassifying individuals based on their coronary risk.
  • Altered apo E sialylation in diabetes warrants further investigation regarding its metabolic implications.

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