Lipoprotein Electrophoresis Should Be Discontinued as a Routine Procedure

Abstract

Abstract Reviewing our five-year experience with more than 1000 lipid profiles (assays for cholesterol and triglycerides In plasma of fasting patients and lipoprotein electrophoresis of their plasma lipoproteins), I conclude that lipoprotein electrophoresis is superfluous for routine clinical laboratory use, being generally redundant to the other parts of the profile. This conclusion is also prompted in part by recent information that changes our conceptions of lipoprotein metabolism and the clinical expressions of genetic hyperlipoproteinemia. A different approach to lipid profiling is suggested.