Apolipoprotein E and adiponectin levels in coronary artery disease patients with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol discordance

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to investigate whether serum apolipoprotein E (ApoE) and adiponectin were associated with discordance of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) levels in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients.
METHODS: A total of 243 patients with significant CAD were studied. The fasting levels of serum lipids, plasma ApoE, and adiponectin were measured. The median LDL-C and non-HDL-C values were determined to assess and analyze discordance. Discordance was defined as an LDL-C≥ the median and non-HDL-C< the median, or an LDL-C< the median and a non-HDL-C≥ the median. ApoE and adiponectin were compared between discordant and concordant groups.
RESULTS: Discordance between the LDL-C and the non-HDL-C was observed in 14% of the patients. Although the median adiponectin was lowest in the group with an LDL-C< median and a non-HDL-C≥ the median, and the median ApoE was lowest in the group with an LDL-C≥ median and a non-HDL-C< the median, no statistically significant differences in the ApoE and adiponectin were recorded between the groups (p=0.186 and p=0.161, respectively). Adiponectin was negatively correlated with triglyceride and remnant cholesterol (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: While discordance between the LDL-C and the non-HDL-C in CAD patients (14%) was observed, the plasma ApoE and adiponectin levels were not significantly different between the discordant and concordant groups.