Several genetic disorders can lead to increased levels of plasma apo B (apo B100), which can now be measured by immunochemical techniques. Such disorders include familial hypercholesterolaemia, familial defective apo B, and familial combined hyperlipidaemia.
Small, dense LDL particles are often found, together with high-to- normal triglyceride levels, modest increases in remnant lipoproteins, decreased levels of HDL, and elevated levels of apo B. This ΓÇÿdyslipidaemicΓÇÖ pattern is quite common and occurs in association with central obesity and often with hypertension and insulin resistance (and occasionally non-insulin-dependent diabetes) to yield a very atherogenic group of disorders (Fig. 6.15).
