We selected patients with known metabolic syndrome that fulfilled the criteria outlined in the National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III) Final Report [6 (link), 12 (link)]; three or more of the following components were present: increased waist circumference (≥102 cm for men and ≥88 cm for women); triglycerides ≥ 150 mg/dL or drug treatment for elevated TG; low HDL-c (<40 mg/dL for men and <50 mg/dL for women) or drug treatment for low HDL-c; systolic blood pressure ≥ 130 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure ≥ 85 mmHg, or treatment with antihypertensive in patients with a history of hypertension; fasting glucose ≥ 100 mg/dL or treatment for high blood glucose.
Patients who fulfilled the MS criteria, consented to provide a blood sample, and signed the informed consent form were included in the study. Patients who did not fulfill the MS criteria, did not sign the informed consent form, and had TG ≥ 400 mg/dL were excluded.
All participants underwent a 12-hour fast. The following tests were performed (using a Selectra II analyzer with reagents and calibrators from ELITech): direct assays for TC, HDL-c, LDL-c, and TG. The results were applied in the FF, and then the LDL-c estimation could be performed. LDL-c was determined by a homogenous direct assay (i.e., colorimetry) using an ELITech kit. Colorimetry is a third generation method (a homogeneous assay with some reagents that can solubilize or specifically block these lipoproteins, dosing LDL-c alone in the same bucket with an enzymatic reaction) [17 ]. Thus, we could compare both LDL-c values (using the FF and by direct assay) and evaluate the reliability of the FF in the MS patients.
The results were described as means, medians, minimum values, maximum values, and standard deviations (quantitative variables) or by frequency and percentiles (qualitative variables). For the assessment of the results of LDL-c using the FF and LDL-c by direct assay was used the Student's t-test for paired samples. To evaluate the correlation between both methods, Pearson's correlation coefficient was used. Scattergram data and a Bland-Altman diagram were used to evaluate the dispersion and differences between the results obtained using the FF and direct assay, and P values < 0.05 were considered to be statistically significant. Data were analyzed with the software Statistica v.8.0.
Patients who fulfilled the MS criteria, consented to provide a blood sample, and signed the informed consent form were included in the study. Patients who did not fulfill the MS criteria, did not sign the informed consent form, and had TG ≥ 400 mg/dL were excluded.
All participants underwent a 12-hour fast. The following tests were performed (using a Selectra II analyzer with reagents and calibrators from ELITech): direct assays for TC, HDL-c, LDL-c, and TG. The results were applied in the FF, and then the LDL-c estimation could be performed. LDL-c was determined by a homogenous direct assay (i.e., colorimetry) using an ELITech kit. Colorimetry is a third generation method (a homogeneous assay with some reagents that can solubilize or specifically block these lipoproteins, dosing LDL-c alone in the same bucket with an enzymatic reaction) [17 ]. Thus, we could compare both LDL-c values (using the FF and by direct assay) and evaluate the reliability of the FF in the MS patients.
The results were described as means, medians, minimum values, maximum values, and standard deviations (quantitative variables) or by frequency and percentiles (qualitative variables). For the assessment of the results of LDL-c using the FF and LDL-c by direct assay was used the Student's t-test for paired samples. To evaluate the correlation between both methods, Pearson's correlation coefficient was used. Scattergram data and a Bland-Altman diagram were used to evaluate the dispersion and differences between the results obtained using the FF and direct assay, and P values < 0.05 were considered to be statistically significant. Data were analyzed with the software Statistica v.8.0.
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