Changes in high-density lipoprotein serum subfractions in patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus drawn from a Greek population

The aim of this study was to compare levels of high-density lipoprotein (HD L) subclasses, HDL 2 and HDL 3, in the serum of patients with non-insulin d ependent diabetes mellitus with (NIDDM/CAD) and without (NIDDM/NoCAD) coron ary artery disease. We wanted to determine the association between HDL subf ractions and coronary artery disease in individuals with non-insulin depend ent diabetes mellitus. Triglycerides, HDL cholesterol and HDL subfractions were measured in 48 male subjects with NIDDM. Coronary artery disease (CAD) was defined in 23 patients (48%) and was absent in 25 (52%). Levels of ser um triglycerides were significantly higher in NIDDM/CAD patients than in NI DDM/NoCAD individuals (218.17 +/- 91.49 and 139.98 +/- 69.27 respectively, P < 0.05). Levels of serum HDL cholesterol (36.92 +/- 4.80 and 39.45 +/- 5. 38 respectively) and HDL3 cholesterol (29.28 +/- 4.60 and 29.24 +/- 4.20 re spectively) were similar in both groups. This was in contrast to the serum HDL2 cholesterol concentration which was significantly lower in NIDDM/CAD t han in NIDDM/NoCAD subjects (7.64 +/- 1.65 and 10.22 +/- 2.59 respectively, P < 0.01). The most powerful variable related to the presence of CAD was H DL2 (P < 0.01). Med Sci Res 27:521-522 (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilki ns.