Low-density lipoprotein subclass patterns and risk of myocardial infarction

• Published in: JAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association Vol. 260; no. 13; p. 1917
• Main Authors: Austin, M A, Breslow, J L, Hennekens, C H, Buring, J E, Willett, W C, Krauss, R M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 07.10.1988
• Subjects: Aged; Cholesterol - blood; Cholesterol, HDL - blood; Cholesterol, LDL - blood; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Female; Humans; Lipoproteins, LDL - blood; Lipoproteins, LDL - classification; Lipoproteins, VLDL - blood; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction - blood; Myocardial Infarction - etiology; Risk Factors; Triglycerides - blood
• ISSN: 0098-7484
• DOI: 10.1001/jama.1988.03410130125037

The association of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) subclass patterns with coronary heart disease was investigated in a case-control study of nonfatal myocardial infarction. Subclasses of LDL were analyzed by gradient gel electrophoresis of plasma samples from 109 cases and 121 controls. The LDL subclass pattern characterized by a preponderance of small, dense LDL particles was significantly associated with a threefold increased risk of myocardial infarction, independent of age, sex, and relative weight. Plasma levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were decreased, and levels of triglyceride, very low-density lipoproteins, and intermediate-density lipoproteins were increased in subjects with this LDL subclass pattern. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that both high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride levels contributed to the risk associated with the small, dense LDL subclass pattern. Thus, the metabolic trait responsible for this LDL subclass pattern results in a set of interrelated lipoprotein changes that lead to increased risk of coronary heart disease.