Associations between carotid intima-media thickness and physicochemical properties of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles.

Aim: Experimental evidences showed that plasma levels of HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) are not the only atheroprotective determinant of this lipoprotein. In this view, it has been suggested that physicochemical properties of the particle can contribute to HDL antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiplatelet aggregation, anticoagulant, profibrinolytic and endothelial protection roles. This study aimed at determining the physicochemical characteristics of HDL in different plasma concentrations and their associations with mean carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), a surrogate marker of cardiovascular diseases.