Aerobic Training in Young Men Increases the Transfer of Cholesterol to High Density Lipoprotein In Vitro: Impact of High Density Lipoprotein Size.

Exercise training not only improves the plasma lipid profile but also reduces risk of developing coronary heart disease. We investigate whether plasma lipids and high density lipoprotein (HDL) metabolism are affected by aerobic training and whether the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels at baseline influence exercise-induced changes in HDL. Seventy-one male sedentary volunteers were evaluated and allocated in two subgroups, according to the HLD-C levels (< or >40 mg/dL). Participants underwent an 18-week aerobic training period. Blood was sampled before and after training for biochemical analysis. Plasma lipids, apolipoproteins, HDL diameter, and VO2 peak were determined. Lipid transfers to HDL were determined in vitro by incubating plasma samples with a donor lipid artificial nanoemulsion. After the 18-week period of aerobic training, the VO2 peak increased, while the mean body mass index (BMI) decreased. HDL-C concentration was higher after the training period, but low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and non-HDL-C did not change. The transfer of esterified cholesterol and phospholipids was greater after exercise training, but the triacylglycerol and unesterified cholesterol transfers were unchanged. The HDL particle diameter increased after aerobic training in all participants. When the participants were separated in low-HDL and normal-HDL groups, the postaerobic exercise increment in HDL-C was higher in the low-HDL group, while the transfer of esterified cholesterol was lower. In conclusion, aerobic exercise training increases the lipid transfers to HDL, as measured by an in vitro method, which possibly contributes to the classical elevation of the HDL-C associated with training.

Removal of Chylomicron Remnants from the Bloodstream is Delayed in Aged Subjects.

Dietary fats absorbed in the intestine are transported in the circulation as chylomicrons and remnants that have atherogenic potential. Although postprandial lipidemia is increased in older subjects, the specific chylomicron metabolism has not been explored in older subjects nor compared to young subjects, which is the focus of this study. After a 12 h fast, artificially-made emulsions similar to lymph chylomicrons and doubly labeled with radioactive cholesteryl esters and triglycerides were intravenously injected in 23 older (66±4 years) and 20 young (24±3 years) subjects. Sequential blood samples were collected to determine fractional clearance rates (FCR, in min-1) by compartmental analysis. Older subjects had higher LDL-cholesterol (p<0.001) and triglycerides (p<0.0001) than young subjects; HDL-cholesterol presented no difference. The emulsion cholesteryl-ester FCR was lower in older subjects compared to the young (p=0.0001). The emulsion triglyceride FCR did not differ in the two groups. Tested in vitro, however, the lipolysis of the emulsion triglycerides was less intense in the older than in the young subjects. As delayed removal of remnants, indicated by the pronouncedly smaller cholesteryl ester FCR, is related to the presence of cardiovascular diseases, this can be a risk factor which could accelerate atherogenic complications occurring in aged subjects.

Obstructive sleep apnea and effects of continuous positive airway pressure on triglyceride-rich lipoprotein metabolism.

This study aimed to explore lipoprotein metabolism in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and the effects of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). We studied 15 men with severe OSA [apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥30 events/hour] and 12 age-, BMI-, and waist circumference-matched volunteers without OSA (AHI <5 events/hour). Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) was determined by a blind examiner. After 12 h fasting, a triglyceride-rich chylomicron-like emulsion, labeled with [14C]cholesteryl oleate and [3H]triolein, was injected intravenously followed by blood sample collection at preestablished times. Fractional clearance rate (FCR) of the radiolabeled lipids was estimated by compartmental analysis of radioisotope decay curves. Compared with controls, patients with OSA showed a significant delay in both cholesteryl ester FCR (0.0126 ± 0.0187 vs. 0.0015 ± 0.0025 min-1; P = 0.0313) and triglycerides FCR (0.0334 ± 0.0390 vs. 0.0051 ± 0.0074 min-1; P = 0.0001). CIMT was higher in the OSA group: 620 ± 17 vs. 725 ± 29 µm; P = 0.004. Cholesteryl ester FCRs were inversely related to total sleep time <90% (r = -0.463; P = 0.029) and CIMT (r = -0.601; P = 0.022). The triglyceride FCR was inversely correlated with AHI (r = -0.537; P = 0.04). In a subgroup of patients treated with CPAP for 3 months (n = 7), triglyceride FCR increased 5-fold (P = 0.025), but the cholesteryl ester FCR was unchanged. In conclusion, severe OSA decreased lipolysis of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins and delayed removal of remnants. CPAP treatment may be effective to restore the lipolysis rates.

Plasma kinetics of an LDL-like non-protein nanoemulsion and transfer of lipids to high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic inflammatory disease associated with cardiovascular risk, but with normal plasma lipids. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to investigate low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) metabolism in RA patients using radioactive nanoemulsions resembling an LDL lipid structure (LDE) as metabolic probes. METHODS: Thirty patients with RA, 16 in remission and 14 in high activity, and 30 healthy controls were studied. LDE labeled with (14)C-cholesteryl ester ((14)C-CE) and (3)H-unesterified cholesterol ((3)H-UC) was intravenously injected followed by 24-hour plasma sampling. Fractional clearance rates (FCR, h(-1)) were calculated by compartmental analysis. Lipid transfers to HDL were assayed by incubating plasma samples with a donor nanoemulsion labeled with radioactive lipids; % lipids transferred to HDL were quantified after chemical precipitation. RESULTS: LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, unesterified cholesterol, and oxidized LDL were equal in RA and controls, and HDL cholesterol was even higher in RA. Compared with controls, apolipoprotein B was lower, apolipoprotein A1 was equal, and apolipoprotein E was higher in RA. Decay curves of LDE labels were faster in RA patients than in controls ((14)C-CE: 0.072 ± 0.066 and 0.038 ± 0.027, P = .0115; (3)H-UC: 0.066 ± 0.042 and 0.035 ± 0.039; P < .0044). FCRs were equal in 2 RA subgroups. Transfer of UC, triglycerides, and phospholipids to HDL was equal between RA and controls, but CE transfer was lower in RA. HDL size was smaller in RA patients than in controls (8.5 ± 0.5 nm; 9.2 ± 0.8 nm, P < .0001). CONCLUSION: RA patients were more efficient in removing atherogenic LDL from plasma, as indicated by higher CE and UC FCR, with in lower apolipoprotein B. This was unexpected because of the higher cardiovascular risk in RA.

Plasma lipids, lipoprotein metabolism and HDL lipid transfers are equally altered in metabolic syndrome and in type 2 diabetes.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) refers to states of insulin resistance that predispose to development of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes (T2DM). The aim was to investigate whether plasma lipids and lipid metabolism differ in MetS patients compared to those with T2DM with poor glycemic control (glycated hemoglobin > 7.0). Eighteen patients with T2DM, 18 with MetS and 14 controls, paired for age (40-70 years) and body mass index (BMI), were studied. Plasma lipids and the kinetics of a triacylglycerol-rich emulsion labeled with [(3)H]-triolein ([(3)H]-TAG) and [(14)C]-cholesteryl esters ([(14)C]-CE) injected intravenously followed by one-hour blood sampling were determined. Lipid transfers from an artificial nanoemulsion donor to high-density lipoprotien (HDL) were assayed in vitro. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and HDL cholesterol (mg/dl) were not different in T2DM (128 ± 7; 42 ± 7) and MetS (142 ± 6; 39 ± 3), but triacylglycerols were even higher in MetS (215 ± 13) than in T2DM (161 ±11, p < 0.05). Fractional clearance rate (FCR, in min(1)) of [(3)H]-TAG and [(14)C]-CE were equal in T2DM (0.008 ± 0.018; 0.005 ± 0.024) and MetS (0.010 ± 0.016; 0.006 ± 0.013), and both were reduced compared to controls. The transfer of non-esterified cholesterol, phospholipids and triacylglycerols to HDL was higher in MetS and T2DM than in controls (p < 0.01). Cholesteryl ester transfer and HDL size were equal in all groups. Results imply that MetS is equal to poorly controlled T2DM concerning the disturbances of plasma lipid metabolism examined here, and suggest that there are different thresholds for the insulin action on glucose and lipids. These findings highlight the magnitude of the lipid disturbances in MetS, and may have implications in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

Low-carbohydrate diet versus euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp for the assessment of myocardial viability with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-PET: a pilot study.

Positron emission tomography with (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG-PET) is considered the gold standard for myocardial viability. A pilot study was undertaken to compare FDG-PET using euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp before (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) administration (PET-CLAMP) with a new proposed technique consisting of a 24-h low-carbohydrate diet before (18)F-FDG injection (PET-DIET), for the assessment of hypoperfused but viable myocardium (hibernating myocardium). Thirty patients with previous myocardial infarction were subjected to rest (99m)Tc-sestamibi-SPECT and two (18)F-FDG studies (PET-CLAMP and PET-DIET). Myocardial tracer uptake was visually scored using a 5-point scale in a 17-segment model. Hibernating myocardium was defined as normal or mildly reduced metabolism ((18)F-FDG uptake) in areas with reduced perfusion ((99m)Tc-sestamibi uptake) since (18)F-FDG uptake was higher than the degree of hypoperfusion-perfusion/metabolism mismatch indicating a larger flow defect. PET-DIET identified 79 segments and PET-CLAMP 71 as hibernating myocardium. Both methods agreed in 61 segments (agreement = 94.5 %, κ = 0.78). PET-DIET identified 230 segments and PET-CLAMP 238 as nonviable. None of the patients had hypoglycemia after DIET, while 20 % had it during CLAMP. PET-DIET compared with PET-CLAMP had a good correlation for the assessment of hibernating myocardium. To our knowledge, these data provide the first evidence of the possibility of myocardial viability assessment with this technique.

Effects of anabolic androgenic steroids on chylomicron metabolism.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) on chylomicron metabolism. METHODS: An artificial lipid emulsion labeled with radioactive cholesteryl ester (CE) and triglycerides (TG) mimicking chylomicrons was intravenously injected into individuals who regularly weight trained and made regular use of AAS (WT+AAS group), normolipidemic sedentary individuals (SDT group) and individuals who also regularly weight trained but did not use AAS (WT group). Fractional clearance rates (FCR) were determined by compartmental analysis for emulsion plasma decay curves. RESULTS: FCR-CE for the WT+AAS group was reduced (0.0073 ± 0.0079 min(-1), 0.0155 ± 0.0100 min(-1), 0.0149 ± 0.0160 min(-1), respectively; p<0.05), FCR-TG was similar for both the WT and SDT groups. HDL-C plasma concentrations were lower in the WT+AAS group when compared to the WT and SDT groups (22 ± 13; 41 ± 7; 38 ± 13 mg/dL, respectively; p<0.001). Hepatic triglyceride lipase activity was greater in the WT+AAS group when compared to the WT and SDT groups (7243 ± 1822; 3898 ± 1232; 2058 ± 749, respectively; p<0.001). However, no difference was observed for lipoprotein lipase activity. CONCLUSIONS: Data strongly suggest that AAS may reduce the removal from the plasma of chylomicron remnants, which are known atherogenic factors.

Resistance training changes LDL metabolism in normolipidemic subjects: a study with a nanoemulsion mimetic of LDL.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of resistance training (RT) on the metabolism of an LDL-like nanoemulsion and on lipid transfer to HDL, an important step of HDL metabolism. METHODS: LDL-like nanoemulsion plasma kinetics was studied in 15 healthy men under regular RT for 1-4 years (age = 25 ± 5 years, VO(2)peak = 50 ± 6 mL/kg/min) and in 15 healthy sedentary men (28 ± 7 years, VO(2)peak = 35 ± 9 mL/kg/min). LDL-like nanoemulsion labeled with (14)C-cholesteryl-ester and (3)H-free-cholesterol was injected intravenously, plasma samples were collected over 24-h to determine decay curves and fractional clearance rates (FCR). Lipid transfer to HDL was determined in vitro by incubating of plasma samples with nanoemulsions (lipid donors) labeled with radioactive free-cholesterol, cholesteryl-ester, triacylglycerols and phospholipids. HDL size, paraoxonase-1 activity and oxidized LDL levels were also determined. RESULTS: The two groups showed similar LDL and HDL-cholesterol and triacylglycerols, but oxidized LDL was lower in RT (30 ± 9 vs. 61 ± 19 U/L, p = 0.0005). In RT, the nanoemulsion (14)C-cholesteryl-ester was removed twice as fast than in sedentary individuals (FCR: 0.068 ± 0.023 vs. 0.037 ± 0.028, p = 0.002), as well as (3)H-free-cholesterol (0.041 ± 0.025 vs. 0.022 ± 0.023, p = 0.04). While both nanoemulsion labels were removed at the same rate in sedentary individuals, RT (3)H-free-cholesterol was removed slower than (14)C-cholesteryl-ester (p = 0.005). HDL size, paraoxonase 1 and the transfer rates to HDL of the four lipids were the same in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: RT accelerated the clearance of LDL-like nanoemulsion, which probably accounts for the oxidized LDL levels reduction in RT. RT also changed the balance of free and esterified cholesterol FCR's. However, RT had no effect on HDL metabolism related parameters.

Exercise training accelerates the removal from plasma of LDL-like nanoemulsion in moderately hypercholesterolemic subjects.

OBJECTIVE: Exercise training improves plasma lipid profile and diminishes risk of coronary heart disease. Previously, we showed that training increases LDL plasma clearance, as tested by an artificial LDL-like nanoemulsion method, presumably by increasing LDL receptor activity. In this study, we investigated whether training could also improve LDL clearance in hypercholesterolemic subjects (HCh) that are exposed to increased risk of cardiovascular events. METHODS: Twenty sedentary HCh and 20 normolipidemic (NL) sedentary volunteers were divided into four groups: 12 HCh submitted to 4-month training program, 8 HCh with no exercise program, 12 NL submitted to 4-month training and 8 NL with no exercise program. An LDL-like nanoemulsion labeled with (14)C-cholesteryl ester was injected intravenously into all subjects and plasma samples were collected during 24 h after injection to determine the fractional clearance rate (FCR, in h(-1)) by compartmental analysis. The study was performed on the first and on the last day of the 4-month study period. RESULTS: In both, trained HCh and NL groups, training increased nanoemulsion FCR by 36% (0.0443+/-0.0126; 0.0602+/-0.0187, p=0.0187 and 0.0503+/-0.0203; 0.0686+/-0.0216, p=0.0827, respectively). After training, LDL cholesterol diminished in both HCh and NL groups. In HCh, but not in NL group, LDL susceptibility to oxidation decreased, but oxidized LDL was unchanged. In both non-trained groups FCR was the same for the last and the 4-month previous evaluation. CONCLUSION: In HCh, exercise training increased the removal of LDL as tested by the nanoemulsion, and this probably accounted for decreased LDL cholesterol and diminished LDL susceptibility to oxidation.

Metabolism of a lipid nanoemulsion resembling low-density lipoprotein in patients with grade iii obesity.

INTRODUCTION: Obesity increases triglyceride levels and decreases high-density lipoprotein concentrations in plasma. Artificial emulsions resembling lipidic plasma lipoprotein structures have been used to evaluate low-density lipoprotein metabolism. In grade III obesity, low density lipoprotein metabolism is poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the kinetics with which a cholesterol-rich emulsion (called a low-density emulsion) binds to low-density lipoprotein receptors in a group of patients with grade III obesity by the fractional clearance rate. METHODS: A low-density emulsion was labeled with [(14)C]-cholesterol ester and [(3)H]-triglycerides and injected intravenously into ten normolipidemic non-diabetic patients with grade III obesity [body mass index higher than 40 kg/m(2)] and into ten non-obese healthy controls. Blood samples were collected over 24 hours to determine the plasma decay curve and to calculate the fractional clearance rate. RESULTS: There was no difference regarding plasma levels of total cholesterol or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol between the two groups. The fractional clearance rate of triglycerides was 0.086 +/- 0.044 in the obese group and 0.122 +/- 0.026 in the controls (p = 0.040), and the fractional clearance rate of cholesterol ester (h(-1)) was 0.052 +/- 0.021 in the obese subjects and 0.058 +/- 0.015 (p = 0.971) in the controls. CONCLUSION: Grade III obese subjects exhibited normal low-density lipoprotein removal from plasma as tested by the nanoemulsion method, but triglyceride removal was slower.

Metabolism of a lipid nanoemulsion resembling low-density lipoprotein in patients with grade III obesity

Introduction: Obesity increases triglyceride levels and decreases high-density lipoprotein concentrations in plasma. Artificial emulsions resembling lipidic plasma lipoprotein structures have been used to evaluate low-density lipoprotein metabolism. In grade III obesity, low density lipoprotein metabolism is poorly understood. Objective: To evaluate the kinetics with which a cholesterol-rich emulsion (called a low-density emulsion) binds to low-density lipoprotein receptors in a group of patients with grade III obesity by the fractional clearance rate. Methods: A low-density emulsion was labeled with [14C]-cholesterol ester and [³H]-triglycerides and injected intravenously into ten normolipidemic non-diabetic patients with grade III obesity [body mass index higher than 40 kg/m²] and into ten non-obese healthy controls. Blood samples were collected over 24 hours to determine the plasma decay curve and to calculate the fractional clearance rate. Results: There was no difference regarding plasma levels of total cholesterol or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol between the two groups. The fractional clearance rate of triglycerides was 0.086 ± 0.044 in the obese group and 0.122 ± 0.026 in the controls (p = 0.040), and the fractional clearance rate of cholesterol ester (h-1) was 0.052 ± 0.021 in the obese subjects and 0.058 ± 0.015 (p = 0.971) in the controls. Conclusion: Grade III obese subjects exhibited normal low-density lipoprotein removal from plasma as tested by the nanoemulsion method, but triglyceride removal was slower.

Enhanced removal from the plasma of LDL-like nanoemulsion cholesteryl ester in trained men compared with sedentary healthy men.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of exercise training on plasma removal of a cholesterol-rich nanoemulsion (LDE) that mimics low-density lipoprotein (LDL) lipid structure and binds to LDL receptors. LDE-derived cholesteryl ester plasma kinetics was studied in 24 exercise-trained and 20 sedentary male subjects. LDE labeled with [(14)C]cholesteryl ester was injected intravenously, and plasma samples were collected over a 24-h period to determine radioisotope decay curves. LDL cholesterol concentration was similar in both groups. Fractional clearance rate (FCR) of the nanoemulsion label was greater in the exercise-trained group compared with the sedentary group (0.138 +/- 0.152 and 0.0261 +/- 0.023 h(-1), respectively). A positive correlation was found (r = 0.60, P < 0.01) between FCR and peak O(2) consumption in trained subjects. Circulating oxidized LDL levels were lower in trained subjects compared with the sedentary group (9.0 +/- 2.0 and 16.0 +/- 3.0 mU/l). LDE was also injected into control and LDL receptor gene knockout mice submitted and not submitted to training. Muscle LDE uptake percentage was increased in the trained mice compared with the untrained mice (1.1 +/- 0.8 and 0.2 +/- 0.1, respectively, P < 0.0001) in the control group but not in the knockout animals, indicating that the LDL receptor is involved in the increased uptake elicited by exercise. These results show that exercise training increases LDE plasma removal, which in turn suggests that it also increases LDL receptors or LDL receptor activity.

Deposition of free cholesterol in the blood vessels of patients with coronary artery disease: a possible novel mechanism for atherogenesis.

A cholesterol-rich nanoemulsion (LDE) that mimics the composition of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) acquires apoE in the plasma and is taken-up by the cells by LDL receptors. In this study, to verify whether free cholesterol (FC) and the cholesteryl ester (CE) components of LDL are taken-up differently by the vessels. LDE labeled with (3)H-cholesterol and (14)C-cholesteryl oleate was injected into 20 coronary artery disease patients 24 h before a scheduled myocardial coronary artery bypass grafting. The plasma kinetics of both radiolabels was determined from plasma samples collected over 24 h, and fragments of vessels discarded during surgery were collected and analyzed for radioactivity. LDE FC was removed faster than CE. The radioactive counting of LDE CE was greater than that of LDE FC in the blood, but the uptake of FC was markedly greater than that of CE in all fragments: fivefold greater in the aorta (p = 0.04), fourfold greater in the internal thoracic artery (p = 0.03), tenfold greater in the saphenous vein (p = 0.01) and threefold in the radial artery (p = 0.05). In conclusion, the greater removal from plasma of FC compared with CE and the remarkably greater vessel tissue uptake of FC compared with CE suggests that, in the plasma, FC dissociates from the nanoemulsion particles and precipitates in the vessels. Considering LDE as an artificial nanoemulsion model for LDL, our results suggest that dissociation of FC from lipoprotein particles and deposition in the vessel wall may play a role as an independent mechanism in atherogenesis.

Plasma kinetics of a cholesterol-rich microemulsion in patients submitted to heart transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Development of coronary graft disease is currently the main cause of late heart-transplantation (HT) failure. HT patients frequently show hypercholesterolemia as well as alterations in chylomicron metabolism. These postHT changes may be important in coronary graft disease development. To clarify whether hypercholesterolemia is caused by decreased low-density lipoprotein (LDL) removal from the plasma, we studied the plasma kinetics of a cholesterol-rich emulsion that binds to LDL receptor. METHODS: We studied 13 HT patients and 13 healthy normolipidemic subjects paired for sex, age, and body mass index. An emulsion labeled with C-cholesteryl oleate was injected intravenously, and blood samples were collected in predetermined intervals (5 minutes, 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 hours) to determine the radioactivity decay curves and to calculate the fractional clearance rates (FCR). RESULTS: The plasma level of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and apo B were greater in HT group than in the control group (P<0.005). FCR C-cholesteryl oleate was smaller in HT patients when compared with the control group (P=0.02). CONCLUSION: The results showed that HT patients have a deficiency in the mechanisms of LDL removal from the plasma, as tested by the cholesterol-rich emulsion, and this may be important in the development of coronary graft disease.

Delayed intravascular catabolism of chylomicron-like emulsions is an independent predictor of coronary artery disease.

The atherogenic role of a delayed intravascular catabolism of chylomicrons has been suggested by univariate analysis of case-control studies. However, it is not established whether this association is caused by a direct atherogenic effect of these lipoproteins or results from the presence of concurrent and metabolically-related coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factors. In this study, the plasma kinetics of a chylomicron-like emulsion doubly labeled with 14C-cholesteryl oleate (CE) and 3H-triolein (TG) was determined in 93 subjects with or without angiographically-defined CAD. As compared with controls and even after adjustment for body mass index (BMI), LDL- and HDL-cholesterol, and the presence of traditional risk factors, CAD patients had 45% smaller fractional clearance rate (FCR) of TG, 41% smaller FCR-CE and 19% smaller dilapidation index (DI; P < 0.05). Among CAD patients, those with highest angiographic score had 66% smaller FCR-TG (P = 0.007), 50% smaller FCR-CE (P = 0.01) and 27% smaller DI (P = 0.004). In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, FCR-CE (P < 0.0001) and DI (P = 0.001) were the only independent predictors for the presence of CAD. In conclusion, we presently show that the rate of lipolysis and removal from the circulation of chylomicron-like emulsions constitutes an independent predictor of CAD and a marker of CAD severity.

Impaired intravascular triglyceride lipolysis constitutes a marker of clinical outcome in patients with stable angina undergoing secondary prevention treatment: a long-term follow-up study.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to verify whether the intravascular metabolism of chylomicron-like emulsion may predict the clinical evolution of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing secondary prevention therapy of CAD. BACKGROUND: Case-control studies have suggested an association between impaired intravascular catabolism of triglyceride (TG)-rich lipoproteins and CAD. However, evidence is lacking with respect to the potential clinical relevance of this metabolic disorder in CAD patients. METHODS: During a period of 4.5 +/- 0.9 years, we followed up 63 stable CAD patients (mean age 60 +/- 10 years) undergoing secondary prevention therapy (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol <100 mg/dl) in whom kinetic studies of the in vivo catabolism of chylomicron-like emulsions were performed. At enrollment into the study, fasting patients were injected intravenously with a chylomicron-like emulsion labeled with radioactive triglyceride (3H-TG) and cholesteryl esters (14C-CE) to evaluate the efficacy of intravascular TG lipolysis. RESULTS: At baseline, CAD patients displayed a diminished fractional clearance rate (FCR) for 3H-TG (-26%; p = 0.027), for 14C-CE (-37%; p = 0.015), and for delipidation index (DI) (-26%; p = 0.02) as compared with 35 control subjects. During follow-up of secondary prevention therapy, 33% of CAD patients (n = 21) presented with clinically refractory angina and aggravated coronary angiographic severity. The FCR for 3H-TG (-44%; p = 0.005) and DI (-41%; p = 0.006) in those patients with refractory angina was significantly lower than that observed in those with stable evolution. Moreover, in a Cox multivariate regression analysis, the presence of a DI less than the median value was an independent predictor of an unfavorable clinical evolution (adjusted hazard ratio 3.32; 95% confidence interval 1.21 to 9.14; p = 0.020). CONCLUSIONS: The current study establishes that delayed intravascular TG lipolysis is a strong and independent predictor of evolution to severe angina among patients undergoing secondary prevention therapy of CAD.

Níveis plasmáticos de lipoproteína (a) em indivíduos normais e portadores de doença coronariana confirmada por cinecoronariografia / Lipoprotein (a) plasma levels in normal subjects and patients with coronary disease carriers subjects confirmed by coronary cineangiography

Avaliar a concentraçäo plasmática da lipoproteína (a) - Lp(a) - em indivíduos com cinecoronariografia normal ou com sinais de aterosclerose. Trinta e um indivíduos com cinecoronariografia normal e 131 com alteraçöes compatíveis com aterosclerose, de ambos os sexos. Foram medidos os níveis plasmáticos de Lp(a) por radioimunoensaio e também os de colesterol, triglicérides, apolipoproteínas A, A1 e B e avaliados fatores de risco como hipertensäo arterial sistêmica, tabagismo, diabetes, além de atividade física. Os indivíuduos com doença coronariana apresentaram Lp(a) plasmática média de 41,9 mg/dl, em comparaçäo com 23,9 mg/dl no grupo normal. O risco de desenvolvimento de doença coronariana entre os com Lp(a) igual ou acima de 25 mg/dl foi de 2,3 vezes, em comparaçäo com os indivíduos com valores abaixo. Houve correlaçäo entre tabagismo e doença coronariana, o que näo foi confirmado estatísticamente no tocante aos outros fatores de risco avaliados. Confirma-se a importância da Lp(a) como fator de risco da doença coronariana