Applying apoB to the diagnosis and therapy of the atherogenic dyslipoproteinemias: a clinical diagnostic algorithm

Purpose of review The first objective is to present the most recent evidence relating to the efficacy of apolipoprotein B as a diagnostic index of the risk of vascular disease and a therapeutic target for statin therapy. The second is to present a diagnostic algorithm for the apolipoprotein B100 dyslipidemias based on triglyceride and apoB. Recent findings The results from several recent prospective epidemiological studies demonstrate apoB to be superior to any of the cholesterol indices to estimate the risk of vascular disease. Similarly, the results of several of the major statin clinical trials demonstrate that apoB is a more adequate index of the adequacy of statin therapy than any of the cholesterol indices. Recent studies of lipoprotein subclass distribution in subjects with familial combined hyperlipidemia are reviewed. They demonstrate the limitations of the original lipid-based criteria and point to the necessity of using apoB as a fundamental diagnostic criterion for the disorder. A diagnostic algorithm for an apoB100 atherogenic dyslipoproteinemias is presented and the limitations of the lipid-based system described. Summary The evidence supporting the clinical use of apoB is solid, its measurement is standardized, and automated, inexpensive laboratory testing could easily be widely available. However, clinical benefit will only follow clinical application.