Moderate statin treatment reduces prebeta-1 high-density lipoprotein levels in dyslipidemic patients

Background Elevated plasma levels of prebeta-1 high-density lipoprotein (HDL), the principal acceptor of cholesterol effluxed from macrophages, are associated with increased risk of atherosclerotic coronary heart disease and myocardial infarction. Objective The objective of the study was to assess the effects on prebeta-1 HDL levels of 6-week moderate-dose statin treatment. Methods We studied 101 patients (mean age 52.7 years; 53.5% female; 63 with primary hypercholesterolemia; 38 with combined hyperlipidemia) before and after treatment with statins. Mean atorvastatin potency equivalence was 23.6 mg/d. Prebeta-1 HDL plasma levels were measured by immunofixation of agarose gels using anti-apolipoprotein A-1 antibody. Results We observed a 42.0% reduction of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (181 ± 56 vs 105 mg/dL, P