Heart Disease Community

Many doctors think that advanced cholesterol testing gives more meaningful information than the basic TC, LDL, HLD, & triglycerides.

In the case of LDL they come packaged in the blood in different forms. Some have a large amount of cholesterol in each bundle and those are large particles and believed to cause less damage to the blood vessels. The small dense particles are more dangerous.

There are a handful of labs that do advanced testing. But each one uses different methods so the results vary.

Some report ApoB100. The protein that is bound with the LDL to carry the LDL fat in the water based blood.

Some report the pattern of the sizes as A, A/B or B.

Other report number of number of LDL particles. That is what LDL-P means.

While I don't know enough about those measurements I see that the number of small LDL is almost doubled and those are

Also the HDL is down. While under 40 is considered a risk factor higher HDL does decrease risk and it is until 60. So your risk on that factor has also increased.

Also some of the advanced test report sub-groups of HDL. Some types of HDL is less protective than others.

"LDL-C 127 when normal is 100>"

I question the "normal".

This is from the American Heart Assoc.

LDL Cholesterol Level Category Less than 100 mg/dL Optimal 100 to 129 mg/dL Near or above optimal 130 to 159 mg/dL Borderline high 160 to 189 mg/dL High 190 mg/dL and above Very high
And in some cases under 70 is recommended.

But I am surprised that you have had some an advanced test and doctor has not discussed the meaning of these and numbers, what caused the difference between the previous numbers and what changes need to be made.

And addition to the test number the recommendations depend on your other risk fractors - family history, age, diabetes, heart problems, other health problems.

Thanks for your reply.

I visited my doctor and we didn't get a chance to talk since the counter staff said that the doctor wanted me to get abdomen sonogram before we discussed the results.

My elevated liver enzymes (from 55 to 79 in 6 months) triggered the sonogram. Since I didn't get to see the doctor, I asked for the report so I can review the basic results (A1c,etc.)

When I compared this last report to the others, I noticed that the LPL-P info had changed dramatically.

I meet with my doctor next week to go over entire results, including the abdomen sonogram.

Those numbers really stood out....

Thanks for your time and input.

Thanks for your reply. I meet with him next week Tue. I didn't get to see him since he asked me to get a sonogram(abdomen) due to increase liver enzymes (from 55 to 79 in six months).

Once I get the sonogram results, we'll discuss the entire lab report. I asked for a copy since I like to track the basic stuff (a1c, etc.)

No heart disease in my family, either side. Diabetes, yes.

36 yrs old 5'7 177, exercise 2-4 times a week, mainly weights.