Lipoprotein profile

Well-founded basic diagnostics usually include the determination of cholesterol, HDL, LDL and triglycerides. The traditional method used to evaluate cardiovascular risk involves the assessment of HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. HDL stands for “high density lipoprotein” and LDL for “low density lipoprotein”. Lowering LDL and increasing HDL can reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. However, patients with coronary heart disease may also express inconspicuous plasma lipid levels. Important factors for the development of arteriosclerosis include not only the concentrations of LDL in the plasma but also their size and density. In the laboratory, the LipoMun profile can be applied to differentiate up to seven further lipoprotein subfractions LDL1-7 in descending size. A dominance of small, dense LDL can increase the risk of a heart attack several times over, independent of total LDL cholesterol.

In 40-50% of all patients with coronary heart disease, an increased number of small, dense LDL can be found without a noticeable increase in LDL cholesterol. Familial backgrounds are often the cause of the increased risk. The determination of the LDL subclass profile is particularly useful for therapy control, as it is a better predictor for the response to any therapy than total LDL cholesterol. The results of positive lifestyle changes, such as diet or physical activity can also be detected at an earlier stage. This additionally supports a change in lifestyle.