Circulating oxidized low density lipoprotein levels - A biochemical risk marker for coronary heart disease

Recent studies have established oxidative modification of low density lipop rotein (LDL) as an important atherogenic factor. We examined the clinical r elevance of circulating oxidized LDL (OxLDL) levels in atherosclerotic dise ase by an enzyme immunoassay with use of specific antibodies against OxLDL (FOH1a/DLH3) and apolipoprotein B, Plasma OxLDL levels were significantly h igher in patients with coronary heart disease (n=65) than in control subjec ts (n=181; 201.3+/-11.2 versus 112.4+/-3.3 U/dL, respectively; P<0.01). OxL DL levels were not associated with age, sex, total cholesterol, or apolipop rotein B levels in normal control subjects. Our results suggest that circul ating OxLDL may be a possible biochemical risk marker for coronary heart di sease.