Apolipoprotein A1

This test can be used to determine the risk of developing cardiovascular disease later in life. The test is often requested in combination with other tests for blood fats.

With a lowered Apo A1, there is often also a lowered HDL ("good" cholesterol). This means that the elimination of cholesterol from the body is not as smooth. There are a few rare hereditary diseases that give low Apo A1, so these patients have low HDL in the blood and often large amounts of fat (hyperlipidemia) and LDL ('bad' cholesterol). As a result, the patient may develop arteriosclerosis more quickly and therefore an increased risk of heart attack, heart disease or cerebral infarction.