Thirty six BD patients were compared to 36 healthy controls. Total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG) and HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels were measured using standard techniques. HDL subclasses and LDL-C size were estimated using polyacrylamide linear gradient gel electrophoresis. The LDL-C/HDL-C ratio was also calculated. High-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) level was measured by a turbidimetric method. Homocysteine (Hcy) level was determined using a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS).
In BD patients, HDL-C levels as well as its subfraction levels were decreased (respectively, p <10−6 and p <10−3). Percentage of HDL2 subpopulation was also decreased (p = 0.02). HDL3 subfraction was significantly higher (p = 0.02). The LDL-C/HDL-C ratio and CRP level were increased (respectively, p = 10−4 and p = 0.003). TC was correlated with CRP. HDL-C and its subfractions were correlated with CRP and TG levels. HDL subparticle percentages were also correlated with age.
Our findings of a reduction of HDL-C and HDL2 subpopulation and an increase HDL3 subclass and a higher LDL-C/HDL-C ratio may be considered as important predictors of cardiovascular events in BD patients.