Background: Triglycerides (TG) are carried in the circulation by diverse lipoprotein particles, which vary in their lipid and protein content, metabolism, and atherogenicity. Several indices related to apolipoproteins (apo) CII and CIII blood concentration have been proposed to reflect TG metabolism more accurately than the blood level of TG. In the present study we compared the distribution of those indices in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients and controls..
Methods: Ninety consecutively discharged patients with CHD and 209 healthy controls were included in the analysis. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics were obtained.
Results: The CHD patients differed appreciably from controls in several TG-related variables. After adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors, significant associations were found between CHD and the following: TG, VLDL-C, apo CIII, apo CIII in HDL, apo CIII in VLDL + LDL, apo CII- to- TG ratio, and apo CIII ratio (CIII in HDL/CIII in VLDL + LDL). Further adjustment for HDL-C substantially attenuated the above associations, except for those regarding apo CIII in VLDL + LDL (odds ratio (OR): 1.69 per 1 SD increment, 95%CI: 1.03-2.77) and apo CIII ratio (OR: 0.40 per 1 SD increment, 95%CI: 0.15-1.00).
Conclusion: Our results add to the growing evidence which links apo CIII concentration in VLDL + LDL to CHD. Further confirmation in prospective studies would be required before considering this measurement as a screening tool.