Apolipoprotein B assessment for evaluating lipid goals.

OBJECTIVE

It is suggested that the apolipoprotein (Apo) B levels are more valuable than LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) levels in assessing cardiovascular risk associated with hyperlipidaemia. However, although non-HDL cholesterol (non-HDL-C) levels are accepted as a secondary objective after achieving LDL-C levels in the guidelines, Apo B has not been recommended as a therapeutic goal yet. The objective of this study was to determine how many of the patients who achieved the LDL-C and non-HDL-C target recommended by the guidelines with a statin therapy achieved the Apo B target.

METHODS

The study included a total of 182 consecutive hypercholesterolaemic (119 male, 63 female) patients who were over 18 years of age (mean age: 54.96 +/- 9.27 y) and on statin therapy. Apo B and non-HDL-C levels were determined for the patients who achieved or did not achieve the LDL-C target according to the cardiovascular risk categories defined in the Adult Treatment Panel-III report. Serum Apo B levels were assessed using the nephelometric method.

RESULTS

The prevalence of patients who achieved the LDL-C, non-HDL-C and Apo B target was 63.2%, 79.7% and 72.5%, respectively. All of the patients who achieved the LDL-C target also achieved the non-HDL-C target. It was found that 6 of 115 patients (5.2%) who achieved the LDL-C and non-HDL-C target failed to achieve the Apo B target, whereas 23 of 132 patients (17.4%) who achieved the Apo B target failed to achieve the LDL-C target.

CONCLUSIONS

These results showed that 95% of patients who received a statin therapy, and achieved LDL-C and non-HDL-C targets also achieved the Apo B target.