Purpose of review: The aim of this article is to review, analyze and interpret the growing body of evidence on circulating oxidized low-density lipoprotein and its relationship to diagnosis and prognosis of cardiovascular disease.
Recent findings: Previous studies focused on indirect measures of oxidative stress such as susceptibility of low-density lipoprotein to oxidation and measurement of autoantibodies to oxidized low-density lipoprotein. The generation of monoclonal antibodies recognizing distinct oxidation-specific epitopes has allowed the development of sensitive and specific assays to measure circulating oxidized low-density lipoprotein. Recent work in human populations has demonstrated that circulating oxidized low-density lipoprotein is associated with preclinical atherosclerosis, coronary and peripheral arterial atherosclerosis, acute coronary syndromes and vulnerable plaques. Several studies have also suggested that elevated levels of oxidized low-density lipoprotein are a prognostic indicator of cardiovascular outcomes. In addition, it has been shown that lipoprotein(a) is the primary carrier of oxidized phospholipids in the circulation of humans, suggesting additional mechanisms through which lipoprotein(a) may be pro-atherogenic.
Summary: Research on circulating oxidized low-density lipoprotein biomarkers is rapidly accelerating and providing novel insights into the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease. Future studies will further assess the clinical utility of oxidized low-density lipoprotein biomarkers by determining their prognostic value in the diagnosis and prognosis of cardiovascular disease and will also evaluate the relative merit of specific assays by performing comparative studies.