Increased frequency of lipoprotein disorders similar to type iii hyperlipoproteinemia in survivors of myocardial infarction in Japan

Abstract We have investigated serum lipids, lipoproteins and apolipoprotein levels in 97 survivors of acute myocardial infarction in order to clarify the characteristics of lipid and lipoprotein disorders in coronary artery disease among Japanese. Although the HDL cholesterol level was lower and the atherogenic index was higher in the myocardial infarction (Ml) group than in the control group, in agreement with previous papers, there was no significant difference in total serum cholesterol level between the MI and the control groups. On the other hand, the triglyceride level was significantly higher in the MI group. The MI group also had higher levels of both cholesterol and triglyceride in the VLDL fraction ( d P These results show that the prevalence of a kind of dysbetalipoproteinemia similar to type III hyperlipoproteinemia was high among Japanese patients with myocardial infarction. It seems to be characteristic of Japanese cases with coronary artery disease where the incidence of hypercholesterolemia is much lower than in Western countries.