Integrated Small Dense Low-density Lipoprotein Profile in Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer: A Longitudinal Study

Abstract

Background/aim: Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) are a heterogeneous class of particles that differ in size and density from each other. Small dense LDL (sdLDL) particles are considered more atherogenic than larger particles. The aim of the study was to evaluate serum levels of sdLDL in patients who died from cardiovascular diseases (CVD) or cancer in a cohort of patients followed up in the De Bellis Research Hospital for 20 years.

Patients and methods: A total of 75 participants who died of cancer and 87 who died of CVD were enrolled and they were matched for age and sex with 135 healthy controls, i.e. without CVD or cancer and are still alive.

Results: Patients who died from cancer had the highest value of LDL IV subfraction (0.25±1.16), followed by those who died from CVD (0.17±0.96).

Conclusion: The integrated profile of sdLDL between CVD and cancer suggests that therapeutic modulation of sdLDL may be associated with a risk reduction for these diseases.

Keywords: cancer; cardiovascular disease; sdLDL.