Understanding The Need For A More Comprehensive Lipid/Cholesterol Test:

Q:        Why do I need to know more about my cholesterol?
A:         According to the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) guidelines, 50% of people who have a heart attack have normal cholesterol. Standard cholesterol testing only gives you part of the picture leaving many people with "normal" cholesterol numbers unaware that they are still at risk for a heart attack.  NCEP introduced new emerging risk factors that are responsible for many individuals being at risk of cardiovascular disease and these risk factors can only be identified with advanced lipoprotein testing.

Q:        Why do I need to know about lipid particles?
A:         Research has shown that there are different sizes of LDL and HDL particles and some are much more dangerous than others.  Having a detailed Lipid Particle Profile (LPPT) gives your doctor the information needed to make more effective treatment decisions to reduce your risk for heart disease and even a heart attack.

Q:        What is a Lipid Particle ProfileT (LPPT)?
A:         The LPPT test is an advanced cardiovascular diagnostic test that uses ultracentrifugation to provide an accurate measurement of LDL particle number and size of LDL particles, as well as HDL and VLDL subclasses.  This detailed lipoprotein particle information allows your doctor to make more effective treatment decisions than previously possible based on standard cholesterol testing.  Lipoproteins are spherical particles in your blood that carry cholesterol, which is needed by cell membranes of your body.  It is the lipoproteins, not the cholesterol inside them, that attack the arterial lining of your blood vessels, contributing to heart disease.  Knowing how many, what kind and how large the lipoproteins in your blood will give you a much more accurate assessment of cardiovascular risk.

Q:        Why have an LPPT?
A:         Knowing your total cholesterol number, while important, is not nearly as important as knowing the levels of good cholesterol (HDL) and bad cholesterol (LDL) in your blood.  However, HDL and LDL numbers don't give your doctor all the information he or she really needs.   Research has shown that there are different sizes of LDL and HDL particles and some are much more deadly than others.   This explains why half of the people who suffer from heart attacks had "normal" cholesterol levels.

Q:        Who needs an LPP?
A:         All patients who:

• Have heart disease or diabetes
• Have a family history of heart disease or diabetes
• Have fasting triglycerides over 200mg/dl
• Have low HDL - the good cholesterol
• Have high LDL  - the bad cholesterol