ApoC-III, LDL, and the risk of coronary artery disease

January 01, 0001

ApoC-III, LDL, and the risk of coronary artery disease

Coronary artery disease is linked with low-density lipoprotein (LDL). These US and Colombian researchers examined what role apolipoprotein (apo) C-III plays in this linkage. They performed a study of 739 patients free of coronary artery disease that, over the up to 14 years of follow up, had a myocardial infarction. They were matched to disease free.

The researchers found: "Concentrations of LDL with apoC-III (measured as apoB in this fraction) were associated with risk of coronary heart disease in multivariable analysis that included the ratio of total cholesterol to high- density lipoprotein cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, apoB, triglycerides, or high- density lipoprotein cholesterol and other risk factors. In all models, the relative risks for the top versus bottom quintile of LDL with apoC-III were greater than those for LDL without apoC-III. When included in the same multivariable-adjusted model, the risk associated with LDL with apoC-III (relative risk for top versus bottom quintile, 2.38) was significantly greater than that associated with LDL without apoC-III (relative risk for top versus bottom quintile, 1.25). This divergence in association with coronary heart disease persisted even after adjustment for plasma triglycerides."

The researchers concluded: "The risk of coronary heart disease contributed by LDL appeared to result to a large extent from LDL that contains apoC-III."

The risk of coronary artery disease from LDL may be largely accounted for by apoC-III


For the full abstract, click here.

Circulation 124(19):2065-2072, 8 November 2011 © 2011 American Heart Association, Inc.
Low-Density Lipoproteins Containing Apolipoprotein C-III and the Risk of Coronary Heart Disease. Carlos O. Mendivil, Eric B. Rimm, Jeremy Furtado, Stephanie E. Chiuve, Frank M. Sacks. Correspondence to Frank M Sacks: fsacks@hsph.harvard.edu

Category: K. Circulatory. Keywords: LDL, low-density lipoprotein, apolipoprotein C-III, apoC-III, coronary artery disease, case-control study, journal watch.
Synopsis edited by Dr Paul Schaefer, Toledo, Ohio. Posted on Global Family Doctor 22 November 2011

Pearls are an independent product of the Cochrane primary care group and are meant for educational use and not to guide clinical care.

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