Lipoprotein and apoprotein values in coronary angiography patients.

In this study the lipoprotein and apoprotein patterns of patients with coronary artery disease were evaluated. The patient population consisted of 179 men who underwent coronary arteriography. On the basis of the results of coronary arteriography these patients were subdivided into a control group (score 0) with normal arteriograms and three groups each having coronary artery disease (CAD) of increasing severity (scores 1 to 3). The patients with coronary artery disease had significantly higher plasma concentrations of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and apolipoprotein B (apo B) than the controls. HDL cholesterol as well as apolipoprotein A-I (apo A-I) were significantly lower in patients with coronary artery disease. However, no difference was found in apolipoprotein A-II (apo A-II) values. Apo B and LDL cholesterol increased with the degree of coronary atherosclerosis. In the discriminant function analysis, apo B was the best separating parameter between control patients and CAD patients (scores 1-3).