Levels of non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) in patients with ischaemic heart disease.

Background: Ischaemic heart disease (IHD) is influenced by elevated cholesterol, low density lipoproteins-C (LDL-C), triglycerides and low blood levels of high density lipoproteins (HDL-C). Recently, non-HDL-C has also been suggested as one of the factors involved in IHD. Non-HDL-C is the difference between total cholesterol and HDL-C. Assuming that non-HDL-C levels are raised in IHD, a cross sectional study was designed to evaluate the levels of non-HDL-C in patients of IHD.

Methods: Thirty adult non-smoking male (age 50 +/- 0.51 years) patients of IHD were compared with 30 adult non-smoking males (47.27 +/- 1.15 years) controls without IHD. A 12 hours fasting blood sample was analysed to determine serum cholesterol and HDL on autoanalyzer.

Results: Non-HDL-C was significantly raised (p < 0.001) in patients of IHD when compared to controls. Values of non-HDL-C were 158.00 +/- 4.79 and 127.63 +/- 2.82 (Mean +/- SEM) in patients and controls respectively.

Conclusion: Non-HDL-C contains all known potentially atherogenic lipid particles including LDL-C, intermediate density lipoproteins and very low density lipoproteins cholesterol remnants. Results of this study suggest its possible involvement in IHD. Non-HDL-C is an emerging coronary risk factor. It is a cost effective screening test that may be included in coronary risk profile.