Reactive oxygen species generation in peripheral blood monocytes and oxidized LDL are increased in hyperlipidemic patients.

Objectives: Experimental and in vitro evidences have established that reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by vascular wall cells play a key role in atherogenesis. Here, we evaluated the rate of ROS generation by resting peripheral monocytes in naive hyperlipidemic subjects.

Design And Methods: Primary hypercholesterolemic, combined hyperlipidemic, and normolipidemic individuals were studied.