Apolipoprotein H: Its relevance to cardiovascular disease

Apolipoprotein H (Apo H) is a single chain glycoprotein consisting of 326 amino acid residues with a molecular weight of about 50 kDa and is involved in clotting mechanisms and lipid pathways [1]. Castro and colleagues report in this journal that plasma concentrations of Apo H are strongly associated with the metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetic patients and could be considered as a clinical marker of cardiovascular risk. The increased Apo H concentration in these patients was due to its increased liver synthesis. Apo H is attracting interest in the field of cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, haemostasis and lipidology and may provide an exciting link between them but why is this