The relationship between apolipoprotein B-100 and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol after treatment with an HMG CoA reductase inhibitor.

ABSTRACT

Measurement of apolipoproteins AI and B-100 has been shown to provide at least equivalent information to measurement of lipoprotein cholesterol levels for evaluating risk of cardiovascular disease. In the present study, the authors examined the relationship between APO B-100 and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in a hypercholesterolemic population that was treated with 16 weeks of hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA reductase inhibitor therapy to lower plasma cholesterol levels. The average decrease in APO B-100 was -0.27 g/L (23% of baseline), which was similar to the decrease in LDL cholesterol, -1.6 mmol/L (-0.61 g/L) (30% of baseline). Correlation data (r = 0.902) indicated that the information provided by the two parameters corresponded in individual cases. Apolipoproteins assayed on automated equipment by kit methods are simpler, more straightforward, and provide more reproducible results than measurement of lipoprotein cholesterols. The authors conclude that, in addition to being more reliable for appraising risk of coronary artery disease, measurement of apolipoproteins may be equally useful for monitoring lipoprotein-lowering therapy.