Atherosclerosis

Question 1

True or False?

Low HDL levels may indicate a reduced need for reverse cholesterol transport and, thus, may not be associated with increased risk in the setting of no other risk factors.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

What process is the critical event that renders LDL atherogenic?

Answer 2

Oxidation and non-enzymatic glycosylation

Question 3

In the course of atherogenesis, monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) is secreted by which tissue?

Answer 3

vascular smooth muscle cells

Question 4

When does a simple atherogenic palque become thrombogenic?

Answer 4

when it loses its fibrous cap

Question 5

Which one of the following is the least likely consequence of atherosclerosis?
A. coronary artery disease
B. femoral artery stenosis
C. hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
D. stroke
E. valvular heart disease

Answer 5

C. hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Question 6

Which one of the following is not a significant risk factor for atherosclerosis?
A. Elevated HDL
B. Elevated IDL
C. Elevated Lp(a)
D. LDL-C/HDL-C >4
E. TC/HDL-C>5

-C = cholesterol, TC = total cholesterol

Answer 6

A. Elevated HDL

Presence of IDL is generally abnormal except in small amounts.

Another lipoprotein particle that correlates positively with the risk of CHD is lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)), which has
an LDL-like core and a polypeptide called apo(a). The level of Lp(a) is determined almost exclusively genetically.

Question 7

Clinical estimate of LDL-C based on the Friedwald Equation requires an 8 hour fast because…

Answer 7

Non-fasting triglycride level is significantly different from fasting levels.

HDL-C and TG levels are usually inversely related (↑ HDL, ↓TG or ↓ HDL, ↑TG)

Question 8

In the Friedwald equation, which level is not measured, but calculated?

Answer 8

LDL-cholesterol

LDL-C = TC – HDL-C – TG/5 (not accurate if TG > 400 mg/dl)