[Doubling of the pre-beta lipoprotein band and coronary risk]

Lipoprotein electrophoresis on cellulose acetate was performed in a series of 100 diabetics in metabolic compensation. Distinct doubling of the pre-beta lipoprotein band was observed in 8 cases, but was no longer present in 3 of these 15 days later. Comparison of these subjects with 10 controls chosen at random, neither group displaying particular lipid composition changes nor significant atherosclerotic risk factors other than diabetes itself, showed that a correlation existed between such doubling and clinically demonstrable peripheral and/or coronary atherosclerosis.