Lipoprotein (Lp) cholesterol and apolipoproteins (apo) A-I and B levels have been shown to be better markers for the presence of coronary artery disease than total cholesterol. In this study, we determined the plasma levels of lipoprotein particles containing apo A-I only (LpA-I), apo A-I and A-II (LpA-I:A-II), apo B and C-III (LpB:C-III) and apo B and E (LpB:E) in 145 patients with coronary artery disease (mean age +/- SD, 51 +/- 7 years) and 135 healthy control men (mean age 49 +/- 11 years). Patients with CAD had lower high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and apo A-I levels and higher triglycerides and apo had lower high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and apo A-I levels and higher triglycerides and apo B levels than controls. In patients with CAD, LpA-I (0.341 +/- 0.093 vs. 0.461 +/- 148 g/l) and LpA-I:A-II (0.694 +/- 0.171 vs. 0.899 +/- 0.148 g/l) were lower, whereas LpB:E (0.372 +/- 0.204 vs. 0.235 +/- 0.184 g/l) were higher than in controls (cases vs. controls, all P less than 0.005). No significant differences were observed for LpB:C-III (0.098 +/- 0.057 vs. 0.107 +/- 0.061 g/l, p = 0.235) particles. Discriminant analysis indicates that LpA-II:A-I, LpE:B, LpA-I, and triglycerides best differentiate between cases and controls. Plasma apo C-III (0.027 +/- 0.008 vs. 0.036 +/- 0.020 g/l) and E (0.040 +/- 0.015 vs. 0.055 +/- 0.029 g/l) were lower in the CAD group (P less than 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)