VAP® Cholesterol Test Helps Researchers Study Dyslipidemia, Assess Effectiveness of New Anti-flushing Agent
March 15 2012 - 12:00PM
Business Wire
Researchers using the VAP® Cholesterol Test to isolate lipid
subfractions and assess a new anti-flushing agent report
significant baseline reductions in the cholesterol content of
lipoproteins across the entire VLDL to LDL density range in
dyslipidemic patients.
In the study Effects of coadministered extended-release
niacin/laropiprant and simvastatin on lipoprotein subclasses in
patients with dyslipidemia published in the Journal of Clinical
Lipidology, researchers conducted a predefined exploratory analysis
of a large, double-blind, randomized active-controlled study1 that
previously evaluated the effectiveness of the anti-flushing drug
Laropiprant (LRPT) when combined with extended release niacin (ERN)
and simvastatin (SIM). Despite its proven cardioprotective
benefits, niacin has not been well-tolerated due to the unpleasant
side effect of flushing. LRPT proved to be well-tolerated in the
large, randomized study, and ERN/LRPT plus simvastatin
significantly improved patients’ lipid profile compared with
ERN/LRPT and simvastatin alone.
Ballantyne et al. examined the individual and combined effects
of ERN/LRPT and SIM on lipoprotein subfractions as isolated by the
VAP Cholesterol Test (Vertical Auto Profile) methodology, which
separates lipoprotein fractions based on their inherent molecular
properties (size and density). Researchers evaluated the effects
of: ERN/LRPT plus SIM; ERN/LRPT; and SIM alone on percent change
from baseline to week 12 in cholesterol associated lipoproteins.
Researchers reported:
- Significant baseline reductions in LDL
and dense LDL subclasses
- Significant baseline increases in HDL
with larger increases in HDL2
- Significant baselines reductions in
triglyceride rich lipoproteins VLDL1+2, VLDL3 and IDL
Lead author Christie Ballantyne, M.D., said that previous
studies that examined the effects of niacin on lipid subclasses
have shown that niacin favorably shifts the ratio of small to large
HDL and LDL particles toward a more cardioprotective distribution.
However, he said this marks the first use of the VAP Test for such
an analysis.
“To our knowledge, we are the first to use the VAP Test to
compare the individual and combined effects of niacin and statin on
lipoprotein subfractions,” said Ballantyne. “By isolating a broad
array of lipoprotein subfractions, we were able to quantify the
cholesterol within each lipoprotein fraction, enabling a more
precise picture of dyslipidemia and the effects of medications on
these lipoprotein parameters.”
Lipoproteins isolated by the VAP Test for the study included:
VLDL, VLDL subclasses (VLDL1+2, VLDL3); IDL; LDL-R (Real LDL,
excluding the contribution of IDL and Lp(a) typically included in
standard LDL measurements); LDL subclasses (LDL1, LDL2, LDL3,
LDL4); Lp(a); HDL and HDL subclasses (HDL2, HDL3).
For information visit www.Atherotech.com or call 877.901.8510.
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About Atherotech Diagnostics Lab
Atherotech is a CLIA-certified clinical reference laboratory and
cardiodiagnostic company focusing on cardiometabolic tests,
including the company’s patented VAP Cholesterol Test, which
reports the cholesterol content of all lipids, components and
subclasses. The VAP Test is the first cholesterol profile to comply
with updated National Cholesterol Education Program ATP III
recommendations for direct LDL measurement, which is accurate with
non-fasting samples. The VAP Test is available through national and
regional diagnostic laboratories and is reimbursed by many of the
largest private insurers as well as Medicare. For more information,
visit www.Atherotech.com.
1 Gleim G, Ballantyne CM, Liu N, et al. Efficacy and safety
profile of co-administered ER niacin/laropiprant and simvastatin in
dyslipidaemia. Br J Cardiol. 2009;16:90–97.