LOW-DENSITY-LIPOPROTEIN PARTICLE-SIZE IS NOT A DISCRIMINATING MARKER FOR ATHEROGENIC RISK IN MALE OFFSPRING OF PARENTS WITH EARLY CORONARY-ARTERY DISEASE

The aim of this study was to assess the importance of low-density lipo protein (LDL) particle size as a marker of atherogenic risk in male of fspring of a parent with early coronary artery disease (CAD) before th e age of 60 years. CAD-positive (CAD(+)) offspring were recruited into two groups based on age, 15 to 30 years (n = 20) and 31 to 45 years ( n = 41), and matched to CAD-negative (CAD(-)) offspring by age and bod y mass index (BMI) (n = 20 and 21 per group). LDL peak particle diamet er was assessed by polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis. There was no significant difference in LDL peak particle diameter between CA D(+) and CAD(-) offspring (26.2 +/- 0.1 v 26.2 +/- 0.1 nm, mean +/- SE ). There was also no difference between CAD(+) offspring and CAD(-) of fspring when comparisons were made within their own age group (26.5 +/ - 0.1 nm in younger CAD(+) offspring v 26.2 +/- 0.1 nm in younger CAD( -) offspring, and 26.0 +/- 0.1 nm in older CAD(+) offspring v 26.1 +/- 0.2 nm in older CAD(-) offspring). Peak particle diameter was signifi cantly greater in younger CAD(+) offspring than in older CAD(+) offspr ing (26.5 + 0.1 v 26.0 +/- 0.1 nm, P < .05). We conclude that small LD L particle size is not a discriminating marker for early atherogenic r isk, and that measurement of LDL particle size has limited value in th e assessment of coronary risk, at least in the age ranges we studied. Copyright (C) 1997 by W.B. Saunders Company.