Clinical Information

Low-density lipoprotein particle (LDL-P) concentration is positively associated with increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). LDL-P is heterogeneous and contains many lipids and proteins, including phospholipids, triglycerides, and cholesterol. LDL cholesterol is a surrogate biomarker of LDL-P.

LDL cholesterol is the historical measure of atherogenic lipid burden. There is a large variance in the relative amount of cholesterol carried by each LDL-P. Consequently, subjects with similar LDL cholesterol values can have markedly different serum concentrations of LDL-P. Multiple studies have shown that serum concentrations of LDL-P more accurately reflect actual risk of ASCVD when LDL cholesterol values are discrepant.

High-density lipoprotein particle (HDL-P) concentration is inversely associated with risk of ASCVD. HDL cholesterol is also inversely associated with ASCVD, since it is a surrogate marker for HDL-P. Like other lipoproteins, HDL-P is heterogeneous, and particles contain highly variable proportions of proteins and lipids, including phospholipids, sphingolipids, and cholesterol.

Several large clinical studies have shown that HDL-P is more significantly associated with ASCVD risk than HDL cholesterol. Furthermore, HDL-P remains significantly associated with ASCVD even among subjects taking cholesterol-lowering medications. HDL-P more accurately reflects actual risk of ASCVD when HDL cholesterol values are discrepant.