RELATIONSHIP OF HIGH-DENSITY-LIPOPROTEIN SUBFRACTIONS AND CHOLESTERYLESTER TRANSFER PROTEIN IN PLASMA TO CAROTID-ARTERY WALL THICKNESS

High plasma concentrations of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholester ol are a powerful indicator of low vascular risk. By decreasing HDL ch olesterol, cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) could perhaps con stitute an atherogenic protein. We measured HDL cholesterol and HDL su bfractions and quantified CETP mass in fasting plasma in 21 asymptomat ic probands, and related these variables to the mean intima media thic kness of the extracranial carotid arteries. HDL(2) cholesterol, the le ss dense HDL subfraction, was inversely related to carotid wall thickn ess (r = 0.378; P < 0.05), and CETP was directly related to carotid wa ll thickness (r = 0.436; P < 0.05). In plasma CETP is associated mostl y with the HDL, subfraction. We therefore calculated from our measurem ents the relative CETP content of HDL(3), i.e., CETP/HDL(3), cholester ol. This ratio was correlated with carotid wall thickness stronger tha n any other variable measured (r = 0.718, P < 0.001). We conclude that variation in HDL subfractions and CETP may be more closely associated with carotid intima media thickness than the accepted strong risk fac tor of HDL cholesterol.