Normal variation of plasma lipoproteins: postural effects on plasma concentrations of lipids, lipoproteins, and apolipoproteins.

We examined the effects of postural change on the concentrations of plasma cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, apolipoproteins (apo) A-I and B, and lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] in six volunteers who fasted 12 h before blood sampling. Baseline samples were drawn in the standing position; the subjects then assumed the supine or sitting position, and additional blood samples were drawn at intervals up to 40 min. They then returned to the standing position and were again sampled at intervals up to 40 min. In the supine position, lipid, lipoprotein, and apolipoprotein concentrations decreased rapidly within the first 5 min and stabilized after 20 min. Total and HDL cholesterol, apoA-I, apoB, and Lp(a) decreased by as much as 7-12% in the supine position and returned to baseline values 20-40 min after the standing position was resumed. Smaller changes (5-9%) were observed when the subjects were sitting, and returned to baseline within 20 min after the subjects resumed the standing position. The decrease in triglycerides was 17% in the supine position and 10-11% in the sitting position. Lp(a) concentrations decreased 7-8% in either the supine or sitting position and returned to baseline more slowly than did the other components. For all components the changes were most rapid within the first 10 min after changing posture.

Lipoprotein-cholesterol analysis during screening: accuracy and reliability.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the accuracy and reliability of lipoprotein-cholesterol measurements obtained during screening. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: From November 1989 to January 1990, 154 adults were screened. MEASUREMENTS: Split venous samples from fasting participants were analyzed for total cholesterol, triglyceride, and high-density-lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol with screening and standardized laboratory methods. Low-density-lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol levels were calculated using the Friedewald equation. Split venous samples from nonfasting participants were analyzed for total cholesterol. Capillary blood samples were analyzed for total cholesterol with the screening method. MAIN RESULTS: Total cholesterol measurements in screening venous blood samples were 5.4% and 3.8% lower than the laboratory values in samples from fasting and nonfasting participants, respectively. Triglyceride and HDL-cholesterol values in venous samples obtained from fasting participants were, on average, 9.8% and 11.2% lower than the respective laboratory measurements. Screening HDL-cholesterol values varied, differing from the laboratory values by as much as 40% in 95% of participants. In fasting participants, total cholesterol in capillary samples averaged 5.5% higher than in venous samples; in nonfasting participants the capillary samples were 3.1% higher. Screening for either total cholesterol or LDL cholesterol identified 93% of the persons with LDL-cholesterol values of 3.36 mmol/L (130 mg/dL) or higher. CONCLUSIONS: Total cholesterol can be reliably measured in samples from fasting or nonfasting persons. The values in capillary blood samples were slightly higher than those in venous samples. Screening HDL-cholesterol values were too variable to establish the HDL-cholesterol level reliably. Participants with high LDL-cholesterol levels were identified as accurately by measuring total cholesterol only when compared with calculating the LDL-cholesterol level from total cholesterol, triglyceride, and HDL-cholesterol concentrations.

Rate immunonephelometry and radial immunodiffusion compared for apolipoproteins AI and B assay.

We measured apolipoproteins (apo) AI and B in fresh plasma samples and serum control pools by using two rate immunonephelometric assay (INA) methods (Beckman "Array" and Behring) and radial immunodiffusion (RID). Both INA methods on average gave apoAI values similar to those by RID in fresh plasma samples. The coefficients of correlation for the two INA-RID method pairs were as follows: Beckman INA vs RID, n = 94, r = 0.73; and Behring INA vs RID, n = 112, r = 0.66. The bias between the INA and RID methods was reflected reasonably well by either lyophilized or frozen control pools. For apoB, the Beckman INA measurements in fresh plasma averaged 40% lower than RID values, due almost entirely to the values assigned to calibration sera, but results by the two methods were highly correlated (n = 94, r = 0.93). The Behring INA values for fresh plasma averaged only 13% lower than RID values, but the two methods were less well correlated (n = 112, r = 0.74). Frozen control pools were most suitable for apoB analysis.

Use of a dual-precipitation procedure for measuring high-density lipoprotein 3 (HDL3) in normolipidemic serum.

We compared results by a dual-precipitation method (J Lipid Res 1982;23:1206-23) for measuring high-density lipoprotein 3 (HDL3) cholesterol with those by ultracentrifugation at d 1.125, using 56 fresh and 105 frozen-stored serum samples. For both methods, HDL2-cholesterol was calculated as the difference between total HDL-cholesterol and HDL3-cholesterol. In general, for pooled serum samples, agreement was closest with ultracentrifugation when we used a dextran sulfate concentration of 5.0 mg/L to precipitate the HDL2-rich fraction, although the optimal concentration varied from 3.0 to 6.8 mg/L for different pools. For individual samples, the values for HDL3 by dual precipitation averaged 12.8% lower than by ultracentrifugation. The coefficients of correlation between the two methods were HDL3, r = 0.70; and HDL2, r = 0.92. The dual-precipitation method reflected the expected sex-related differences in HDL2-cholesterol concentration and inverse relationship with triglyceride concentration.