Apolipoprotein A1 (APO A1)

Apolipoprotein A1 is a protein in your body which has a protective function against Cardiovascular disease (CVD). It is considered to be a better predictive marker than HDL & LDL cholesterol. It specially helps to determine risk of heart attack in elderly persons.

Apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1) is the primary protein associated with high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles, and plays a central role in reverse cholesterol transport. HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) and ApoA1 concentrations are inversely related to the risk for Coronary artery disease (CAD). There are a variable number (1-5) of ApoA1 proteins per HDL particle. Therefore, ApoA1 is not a 1:1 surrogate marker for HDL particles. Similarly, the number of ApoA1 proteins and the amount of cholesterol contained in HDL particles is highly variable. Individuals with Tangier disease have < 1% of normal Apo A1.