Remnant lipoproteinemia is a risk factor for endothelial vasomotor dysfunction and coronary artery disease in metabolic syndrome

This study aimed to determine whether elevated levels of remnant lipoprotein, an atherogenic triglyceride-rich lipoprotein, might be associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) and endothelial vasomotor dysfunction in metabolic syndrome. The fasting serum levels of remnant lipoproteins (remnant-like lipoprotein particles cholesterol; RLP-C) were measured by an immunoseparation method in 210 patients with metabolic syndrome meeting ATP III criteria. Flow-mediated endothelium-dependent dilatation (FMD) in the brachial artery during reactive hyperemia was examined by high-resolution ultrasound technique. This study found that elevated RLP-C levels were a significant and independent risk factor for impaired FMD and angiographically proven coronary artery disease (CAD). Treatment with bezafibrate (n = 20) or atorvastatin (n = 20) for 4 weeks significantly reduced RLP-C levels, with a concomitant improvement in FMD. The % reduction in RLP-C levels from baseline after the treatment was independently correlated with the magnitude of improvement in FMD after adjustment for the % changes in levels of triglyceride, hsCRP, and IL-6, and HOMA index. Thus, elevated levels of RLP-C are a risk factor for CAD and endothelial vasomotor dysfunction, a predictor of coronary events, in metabolic syndrome. Measurement of RLP-C is useful for assessment of CAD risk and therapeutic effects in metabolic syndrome.