The relationship between plasma apolipoprotein A-IV levels and coronary heart disease

Objective To evaluate the relationship between plasma apoA-IV levels and co ronary atherosclerosis and to explore its relation to other risk factors. Methods Using ELISA techniques, plasma apoA-IV levels were quantified in 18 1 patients who underwent coronary angiography (CAG). Patients were divided according to their coronary status into a coronary heart disease (CHD) grou p (stenotic lesion on GAG, n = 118) and a control group (normal GAG, n = 63 ). The severity of atherosclerosis was assessed by stenosis scoring of the different lesions. Other parameters, including apoA-I, apoB, Lp(a), HDL-C, LDL-C, TG, and TC, were measured as well. Univariate, logistic regression a nalyses were used to define the relationship between coronary atheroscleros is and plasma apoA-IV levels. Results When compared with the control group, plasma apoA-IV levels were fo und to be lower in the CHD group. There was a weak negative correlation bet ween plasma apoA-IV levels and the severity of coronary atherosclerosis. Ap oA-IV was found to be a relatively independent risk factor for CHD. We also found a positive correlation between apoA-IV and triglyceride levels. Conclusions ApoA-IV may be important in the prediction of CHD and coronary atherosclerosis severity. It may also play an important role in the metabol ism of triglycerides.