High apoB/apoA-1 ratio is a strong risk predictor of major adverse cardio- and cerebrovascular events part 1: a review basis for updating guidelines.

INTRODUCTION: Hypercholesterolemia and other dyslipidemias are common risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and development of atherosclerosis. International guidelines recommend LDL-C, non-HDL-C and apoB under some conditions for clinical use in evaluating risk of CVD. In part 1 of this review newer risk factor data for apoA-1, and the apoB/apoA-1 ratio is presented for cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, diabetes and other CVD manifestations of atherosclerosis. Compared to conventional lipids, these apolipoproteins add strong clinical risk information for these CVD disorders and for a range of other diseases.

AREAS COVERED: Prospective studies, reviews, meta-analyses, case control, nested-case and therapeutic studies are analyzed. Searches were conducted with Google and in PubMed, and CVD journals for peer-reviewed publications. In part 2 of this review newer risk factor data for apoA-1, and the apoB/apoA-1 ratio is presented for atherosclerotic plaques, HDL-C versus apoA-1, inflammatory diseases, cancer, and metastases.

EXPERT OPINION: Associations between apoB, apoA-1 and especially the apoB/apoA-1 ratio and development of atherosclerosis related risk of multiple CVD diseases have been documented world-wide. This data indicates that the balance, i.e. the ratio between the atherogenic apoB and the protective apoA-1, significantly improves risk evaluation and prediction of CVD, hence calling for an update of guidelines.