Studies have shown that apolipoprotein B (apo B) and non-HDL cholesterol are more accurate measures of the risk of vascular events than LDL cholesterol. The aim of this review was to discuss whether apo B should be incorporated in clinical practice. The authors suggest that non-HDL cholesterol is a more accurate index of vascular risk than LDL cholesterol, not because it includes VLDL cholesterol, but because it is an indirect way of measuring LDL particle number. However, even if non-HDL and apo B have equal predictive power of vascular risk in groups, it does not mean that markers have equal predictive power in individuals. Measuring apo B allows more effective recognition of risk and more coherent use of statin therapy. The authors underlined the fact that introducing and integrating apo B into routine clinical care will improve the diagnosis and therapy of the atherogenic dyslipidemias. Thus, the authors are convinced that the apo B measurement must be included in national guidelines.
Documentation centre