apoB level in cholesterol may predict CAD risk
September 1, 1998 less than 1 minute read
apoB level in cholesterol may predict CAD risk
Blood levels of apolipoprotein B (apoB) in cholesterol may be a better predictor in determining a woman's risk for coronary artery disease (CAD) than blood levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), according to a report from University Hospital Utrecht in The Netherlands.1 apoB can be measured by blood tests that take about an hour using a kit like that from Exocell in Philadelphia. Exocell's kit contains 90 samples and costs $275, so each test costs approximately $3. Researchers have already established the superiority of apoB as a predictor in men, but few studies have focused on the protein in women. When only cholesterol levels and apoB levels were considered, apoB was superior to total cholesterol, LDL, high-density lipoprotein, and triglycerides in determining risk for CAD. Blood plasma apoB concentrations reflect the number of LDL, VLDL (very low-density lipoprotein), and triglyceride particles in the arteries. The five-year study involved 289 women undergoing their first coronary angiography.
Reference
1. Westerveld HT, van Lennep JER, van Lennep H, et al. Apolipoprotein B and coronary artery disease in women: A cross-sectional study in women undergoing their first coronary angiography. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology 1998;18:1101.
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