RESUMO
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Little is known about the relationship between the apolipoprotein (apo) B-100, or the apo B-100/apo A-I ratio, and coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of this study was to investigate this association. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Our study was carried out on 194 patients who had undergone elective coronary angiography (CAG), but had received no lipid-lowering medication. Patients with acute myocardial infarction were excluded. Stenosis of >or=50% in 1 or more coronary arteries was classified as CAD (+). RESULTS: HDL-C and apo A-I were significantly higher in females than in males (p=0.009 and 0.036). In our population we found that the apo A-I, HDL-C and the apo B-100/apo A-I ratio were significantly related to CAD (p=0.001, 0.006, and 0.007 respectively). In the male group (n=111), the apo B-100/apo A-I ratio was the only parameter statistically significant to CAD after correcting for age, diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Whereas, in the female group (n=83), the apo B/apo A-I ratio, apo B-100/apo A-I ratio, apo B-100, nonHDL-C, triglyceride, apo B, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were all significantly related to CAD (p=0.002, 0.003, 0.003, 0.007, 0.007, 0.009, 0.012 and 0.012 respectively). Of these parameters only the apo B-100/apo A-I ratio was significantly related to CAD in both female and male group. CONCLUSION: The apo B-100/apo A-I ratio is an useful indicator for discriminating between CAD (+) and CAD (-).