Serum lipids and apolipoproteins in families of postinfarction men.

The study of relatives of postinfarction patients was designed to assess the familial associations of lipids (total cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol), and of apolipoproteins A and B. Examination of 493 individuals from 106 families showed only some familial associations of serum lipids between mothers and offspring and among siblings, but similar associations in apolipoproteins among all groups of direct relatives (i.e. between mothers and offspring, among siblings and between fathers and offspring). Associations among direct relatives, and their absence between spouses, suggest the genetic influence on lipoproteins. Apolipoproteins appear to be a more suitable means of detecting such associations than serum lipid levels.