Oxidized low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and the ratio in the diagnosis and evaluation of therapeutic effect in patients with coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the value of ox-LDL and oxidation ratio of LDL (ox-LDL/TC, ox-LDL/HDL-C and ox-LDL/LDL-C) in diagnosis and prognosis evaluation in CAD patients. Also, we aimed to observe the effect of statins on reducing level of ox-LDL and oxidation ratio of LDL, and explore whether statins still have similar effect on ox-LDL in a short period of therapy (within 2 weeks).

METHODS

Blood ox-LDL, TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, and TG were measured in cases with acute myocardial infarction (AMI, n=177), unstable angina pectoris (UAP, n=195), stable angina pectoris (SAP, n=228), normal control (n=120), and high risk control (n=140).

RESULTS

Mean value of ox-LDL and oxidation ratio of LDL was significantly higher in the CAD group than in the two control groups. The AUC of ROC curve of ox-LDL, ox-LDL/TC, ox-LDL/HDL-C, ox-LDL/LDL-C and apoA1/apoB were more than 0.50 (P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age and ox-LDL/LDL-C related with short-term, while ox-LDL/LDL-C and ox-LDL/TC related with long-term prognosis (p < 0.05). Furthermore, after treatment with statins for 2 weeks, TC, LDL-C, ox-LDL, ox-LDL/TC, ox-LDL/HDL-C and ox-LDL/LDL-C decreased by 22%, 28%, 38%, 29%, 23% and 25% respectively. And the reduction of ox-LDL by statins is independent of lowering of LDL-C and TC.

CONCLUSIONS

Ox-LDL and oxidation ratio of LDL are closely related with AS, and they are better biomarkers for discriminating between patients with coronary artery disease and healthy subjects. In addition, statins can decrease level of ox-LDL significantly, which is independent of lowering of LDL-C and TC.