ApoB in clinical care: Pro and Con

Whether apoB adds significantly to the assessment of the risk and therapy of the atherogenic dyslipoproteinemias has been vigorously contested over many years. That trapping of apoB lipoprotein particles within the arterial wall is fundamental to the initiation and maturation of atherosclerotic lesions within the arterial wall is now widely accepted. At the same time, the concept that primary prevention should be based on the risk of a cardiovascular event, a measure that integrates the effects of age, sex, blood pressure, lipids and other factors, has also become widely accepted. Within the risk framework, the issue becomes whether apoB adds significantly to the assessment of risk. On the other hand, it can be argued that the risk model undervalues how important a role that LDL and blood pressure play as causes of atherosclerosis and that when considered as causes, the importance of apoB emerges. These are the two sides of the debate that will be presented in the article that follows: one will highlight the pros of measuring apoB, the second the cons. The reader can make up his or her mind which side of the issue they favour.