Intermediate-density lipoprotein
lipoproteinIDL is retained in the arterial intima and undergoes oxidative modification, seeding atherosclerotic plaque formation.
Pathway placement
Cascade stepLipid retention & oxidation
Confidencehigh
RationaleApoB-containing atherogenic lipoprotein; retained in intima driving atherosclerotic risk and MI.
Druggability
Not assessed (no mapped human gene target).
Assay & specimen
Specialized reference method
Specimen
Serum or plasma (EDTA)
Collection tube
K2/K3-EDTA (lavender-top) · Serum separator (gold/red-top, SST)
Method / principle
NMR lipoprotein particle analysis or density-gradient ultracentrifugation
Reagent / substrate
No chemical reagent — NMR spectral deconvolution of lipid methyl signals (or ultracentrifugal separation by density)
Platform
NMR (LabCorp NMR LipoProfile) / analytical ultracentrifuge
Turnaround · availability
Send-out · Specialized reference lab
Literature evidence(6)
- Bioactive lipids in plasma and atherogenic apoB-containing lipoproteins: Effects of statins and PCSK9 inhibitors and relevance to residual cardiovascular risk.Pharmacology & therapeutics · 2026 · PMID 42162924 · doi
- Circulating metabolites associated with incident myocardial infarction and stroke: A prospective cohort study of 90 438 participants.Journal of neurochemistry · 2022 · PMID 35762284 · doi
- Lipids, Lipoproteins, and Metabolites and Risk of Myocardial Infarction and Stroke.Journal of the American College of Cardiology · 2018 · PMID 29420958 · doi
- Remnant lipoproteins and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.Clinica chimica acta; international journal of clinical chemistry · 2018 · PMID 30553862 · doi
- Lipid disorders and their relevance to outcomes in chronic kidney disease.Blood purification · 2011 · PMID 21228589 · doi
- Lipopolysaccharide associates with pro-atherogenic lipoproteins in periodontitis patients.Innate immunity · 2008 · PMID 18669610 · doi