High density and low density lipoprotein subfractions in survivors of myocardial infarction and in control subjects.

The major lipoprotein classes (very low, low and high density lipoproteins, VLDL, LDL and HDL) and three lipoprotein subfractions (HDL2, HDL3 and LDL2) of 31 male survivors of myocardial infarction (MI) have been compared with those of 24 ostensibly normal subjects. The two groups had similar ages, relative weights, smoking and dietary habits, and physical activities. The MI survivors had significantly higher concentrations of total and VLDL-triglyceride and total and LDL-cholesterol than the control subjects. The differences in HDL-cholesterol, and total apolipoproteins A-1 and B were of borderline significance. HDL2 was significantly lower and LDL2 was higher in the MI survivors. There was no difference in HDL3. The differences in lipoprotein subfractions could be ascribed to differences in cholesterol, phospholipid and proteins, but not in triglyceride. The data suggest that the minor HDL2 subfraction shows a closer association with established coronary heart disease than does total HDL-cholesterol. The increased LDL-cholesterol concentration in the MI survivors can be ascribed at least partly to an increase in the major subfraction, LDL2.