HEALTH The Six Additional Tests to Help Determine Heart Disease Risk

• LDL Particle Size: The LDL particle size test classifies people as predominantly small LDL (pattern B) or large LDL (pattern A). Pattern B dramatically increases risk of heart disease, a risk that can be reduced by a low fat diet. Healthy pattern A individuals experience minimal benefit, or even adverse affects, from low fat diets.

• Lp(a): Lp(a) is an LDL particle with an abnormal protein attached. This test detects elevated levels, which increase the risk of heart disease three-fold and are not detected in routine blood work.

• HDL Subclassification: This test identifies HDL subclasses and their distribution. Such information can help predict whether efforts to raise HDL levels in a particular patient - through weight loss, exercise, and/or estrogen administration - are likely to be successful.

• Apolipoprotein A-1: Apo A-1 is one of several proteins attached to the HDL particle. Testing for Apo A-1 may prove to be a better predictor of heart disease risk than HDL levels.

• Apolipoprotein E: Apo E exists in normal and abnormal genetic forms. By identifying the form, this test indicates whether an individual is prone to develop excess blood lipids or has inherited an increased risk of heart disease.

• Apolipoprotein B-100: Apo B is a single protein attached to the LDL particle. This test provides a more accurate count of LDL particles than a standard LDL cholesterol blood test.