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A single hsTnT level less than 6 ng/L was associated with a markedly decreased risk of AMI, while serial levels at 19 ng/L or less identified patients at less than 1% risk of 30-day ACE.

Background: LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations currently are determined in most clinical laboratories using the Friedewald calculation. This approach has several limitations and may not always meet the current total error recommendation in LDL-C measurement of ≤12% established by the National Cholesterol Education Program. Methods: In a multicenter study, we evaluated the analytical and clinical performance of a homogeneous LDL-C assay (LDL-CRoche; Roche Diagnostics, Indianapolis, IN) in a comparison with a β-quantification method. Results: This direct assay correlated highly with a β-quantification method (r = 0.968; y = 1.037x − 95.8 mg/L; n = 355; 95% confidence intervals, 1.011–1.063 for the slope and −129.5 to 62.0 mg/L for the y-intercept) and met the current total error requirement. The assay was not affected significantly by concentrations of hemoglobin up to 6000 mg/L or bilirubin up to 500 mg/L. However, a negative bias of 10% was seen when triglyceride concentrations exceeded 10 000 mg/L. At the medical decision cut-point range, the LDL-CRoche assay showed positive predictive values of 91–100% and negative predictive values of 80–99%. Furthermore, the clinical utility of the assay seemed unaffected in samples obtained postprandially. Conclusions: The homogeneous LDL-CRoche assay meets the currently established analytical performance goals and may be useful for the diagnosis and management of hyperlipidemic patients.

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Common genetic variants of coagulation factor genes associated with differences in concentration and/or function of coagulation factors have been studied in search of variability that could explain the individual susceptibility to thrombosis and atherothrombotic diseases. The more outstanding polymorphisms in genes of factors involved in coagulation and fibrinolysis described in the literature (such as fibrinogen, factor XIII, glycoprotein IIb/IIIa, von Willebrand factor, factors VII, VIII and IX, factor V, ATIII and protein C system factors, prothrombin, PAI-1 and fibrinolytic system) are reviewed in the context of factor's structure and function and also in its proposed relevance for thrombotic and atherothrombotic risk definition.