Utility of Apob-48 in hypertriglyceridaemia
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Use of apolipoprotein (apo)B-48 levels to differentiate chylomicrons from very low-density lipoprotein in patients with hypertriglyceridaemia.
IRAS ID
321830
Contact name
Devaki Nair
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Royal Free Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
NA, NA
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
High triglycerides are known to contribute to the risk of heart disease and other diseases of the heart and blood vessels, and very high triglyceride levels can cause serious medical conditions such as acute pancreatitis.
When we eat foods containing triglycerides, such as meat, dairy products, cooking oils and fats, they are absorbed by our intestines and packaged into parcels of fats and protein called chylomicrons. These carry the triglycerides in the bloodstream to our tissues to be used for energy straight away or stored for later.
The body also makes its own supply of triglycerides in the liver. This form is carried in a different type of lipoprotein known as VLDL.
High levels of Chylomicrons show a stronger association with acute pancreatitis which can be fatal if not identified and treated early in some individuals, while high VLDL promotes heart disease.
The routine triglyceride test measures the triglycerides carried in chylomicrons and VLDL but does not differentiate the origin of the triglycerides, whether it is from food (chylomicrons) or from the liver (VLDL)
Early differentiation will facilitate appropriate therapy selection and prevent the occurrence of acute pancreatitis associated with very high triglycerides seen in people with very high chylomicrons.
Currently, the available test for this differentiation (Beta ultracentrifugation) is not routinely available because it is time-consuming and costly. This necessitates the need for the implementation of a simple, reliable, and suitable assay for routine analysis.
ApoB-48 is a protein that binds with Chylomicrons but does not bind with VLDL, Therefore, apoB-48 has been found useful as an indirect assessment of Chylomicron particles in the body.
We intend to investigate the utility of apob-48 as a faster and reliable marker of differentiating chylomicrons from very low-density lipoprotein in patients with hypertriglyceridaemia attending the lipid outpatient department of our hospital using an ELISA/CLIA assay.REC name
London - Riverside Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/PR/0460
Date of REC Opinion
31 May 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion