Study of lipoprotein particles LpAI and LpAI:AII in patients before coronary bypass surgery.

Lipids, apolipoproteins, and LpAI and LpAI:AII particles were studied in 43 men (mean age 51, SD 7, years) 24 h before their coronary bypass surgery and in 54 control men (mean age 46 SD 9, years). LpAI and LpAI:AII were analyzed by electroimmunodiffusion and by a noncompetitive enzyme-linked immunoassay, respectively. Concentrations of LpAI and LpAI:AII in the bypass patients were significantly lower (P less than 0.001) than those in the controls. Apolipoprotein AI was significantly correlated with LpAI (P less than 0.001) and LpAI:AII (P less than 0.01) in controls, but only with LpAI:AII (P less than 0.001) in bypass patients. Discriminant analysis between controls and patients showed apolipoprotein AI to be the most powerful discriminant factor; the addition of LpAI and LpAI:AII did not improve discriminant power. We conclude that the determination of LpAI and LpAI:AII particles reflects metabolic disorders in patients but does not significantly influence the discrimination of such patients into risk groups.