[Plasma apolipoproteins B and AI in healthy individuals and patients with coronary atherosclerosis in a male population from Lithuania].

The paper discusses the results from a study into apolipoproteins B (apo-B) and AI (apo-AI) and apoB/apo-AI ratios in the blood of 188 healthy donors and 122 male patients with coronary atherosclerosis. Atherosclerotic lesions were coronary angiographically documented. The study was performed (in two age groups of patients: 1) those under 45 years and 2) those over 45 years. A relationship was examined between the levels of apolipoproteins and the lesion of one, two, three or more coronary arteries in the two age groups. The studies indicate that there are various mechanisms responsible for the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in the age groups in question. It is concluded that the younger a patient is, the higher probability that elevated blood apo-B levels are essential in the pathogenesis of coronary atherosclerosis is. Determination of plasma apo-B and apo-AI levels and apo-B/apo-AI ratios enables a potential number of diseased coronary arteries to be predicted.