Background: Early studies have suggested that there may be differences
in the concentration of lipoprotein particles and their associated apolipoproteins in
arterial and venous blood and that this gradient might explain a proclivity to
develop atherosclerotic lesions. The aim of this study was to use current methods of
analysis to determine levels of these components, including particle densities and
several common inflammatory markers in arterial and venous blood.
Methods: Samples of arterial and venous blood were obtained nearly
simultaneously in 26 patients undergoing right and left heart catheterization.
Analyses were performed using enzymatic, immunoturbidimetric and ultracentrifugation
assays.
Results: Data obtained for total cholesterol, triglyceride,
HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL and LDL particle density, high sensitivity
C-reactive protein, serum amyloid-A and apoprotein B-100 concentrations in arterial
and venous blood did not demonstrate any significant difference in the means.
Conclusion: Arterial and venous blood can be used interchangeably to
study the effect of blood concentrations of common soluble surrogate markers of
atherosclerosis.
