Serum amyloid A is independently related to apolipoprotein A-I but not to HDL-cholesterol in patients with angina pectoris.

Background: Inflammation processes are considered important links between classical lipid risk factors and the progression of atherosclerosis. The interrelationship of high density lipoproteins (HDL) and apolipoprotein apoA-1 with acute phase proteins and cytokines was examined in a clinical setting of patients with angina pectoris.

Methods: On exclusion criteria (myocardial infarction, heart failure, CHD>2 years, anticoagulant therapy), 198 patients were recruited and were subdivided according to angiographically documented stenosis, no stenosis vs.

Characterization of low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) gene mutations in Albania.

Introduction: Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is a clinical syndrome characterised by elevated serum total cholesterol (TCHOL) levels due to an increase in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, by tendon xanthomata and clinical manifestations of ischaemic heart disease in early life. Typically, it results from mutations in the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) gene. So far, more than 800 mutations have been reported for the LDLR gene and account for FH.