The association between serum apolipoprotein A-I and apolipoprotein B and the severity of angiographical coronary artery disease

Khadem-Ansari MH, Rasmi Y, Rahimi-Pour A, Jafarzadeh M
Correspondence: Dr Yousef Rasmi, rasmiy@umsu.ac.ir

ABSTRACT
Introduction The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) and apolipoprotein B (apoB) and the severity of coronary artery stenosis.
Methods This case-control study was carried out on 106 patients who underwent angiography and 100 healthy controls. ApoA-I and apoB as well as the serum total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels were measured. Very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and the LDL-C/HDL-C ratio were calculated.
Results In an Iranian population with coronary artery disease (79 men and 27 women, aged 53 +/- 8.5 years), the increased levels of apoA-I and apoB were correlated with the number of involved vessels and the severity of coronary lesions. However, no significant correlation was found between the serum values of lipids as well as other lipoproteins and the number of vessels involved and the severity of coronary lesions.
Conclusion ApoA-I and apoB are indicated as risk factors for cardiovascular and, possibly, cerebrovascular diseases. From this study, it may be concluded that apoA-I and apoB serum concentration levels are independent risk factors for coronary atherosclerosis in the Iranian population. It also demonstrates a direct relationship between the severity of coronary atherosclerosis and the number of lesions in the involved vessels. It can be regarded as an index for the relationship of apoA-I and apoB to the early, still clinically asymptomatic, steps of the pathogenesis of coronary disease.

Keywords: apolipoprotein, cardiovascular disease, coronary artery disease, coronary artery stenosis
Singapore Med J 2009; 50(6): 610-613