Low serum apolipoprotein A-I in acute myocardial infarction survivors with normal HDL cholesterol.

High density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, apolipoprotein A-I (apo A-I), gamma-glutamyl-transferase, testosterone and oestradiol were determined in plasma in non-diabetic males who had survived an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) before the age of 60. They also had serum levels of cholesterol below 7.0 mmol/l 1 year after the AMI. On the basis of diastolic blood pressure they were subdivided into 2 groups with diastolic blood pressures below 90 mm Hg (n = 39), and with or above 95 mm Hg (n = 21) and then compared with an age-matched male non-diabetic reference group (n = 32). There were no significant differences in the levels of HDL cholesterol, gamma-glutamyl-transferase, and sex hormones between the AMI groups and the reference group. Reduced plasma levels of apo A-I were found in the AMI groups.