Since the middle of this century, despite the enormous number of srudies, the relationship of mul tiple lipid fractions as risk factors with coronary artery disease (CAD) has not entirely been elucidated yet. The disharmony probable has been originating from different popularions, methodologies and defi nitions of CAD.

To enlighten this subject in Turkish population, 100 cases who were hospitalized for elective coro nary angiography in 1991 were examined. CAD, defined as ³50% narrowing in a major coronary artery, was present in 54% of all cases. The population was separated as male (74%) and female (26%) in order to minimize the effect of gender on the relationship of lipid fractions with CAD. Total cholesterol (TC), its ration to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TC/HDLC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC), correlating with CAD, showed significant elevations only in males (p<0.02, p<0.01, p<0.01, res pecrively). The same variables had significant correlations with the extent of coronary lesions (r=0.40, p<0.01, r=0.40, p<0.01, r=0.33, p<0.05) On the other hand, LDLC correlated with the severity as well (r=0.29, p<0.05). in the female group, there were no significant parameter relations with the presence of CAD, and the extent of the lesions.

64% of the total population who had desirable levels of TC (<200 mg/dl) was evaluated afterwards. From these, the ones who had CAD were found to be older (p<0.05) and showed high LDLC levels (p<0.05). Independent of the age variable, the only parameter that correlated with the number of disea- sed vessels was HDLC (r=0.35, p<0.05).

As a result, we conclude that in Turkish men TC, TC/HDLC, and LDLC may be measured as the predictors of CAD and low levels of HDLC suggest the extesion of lesions.