Dear Editor,
We read with great interest Kilic Coban’s study entitled “Can TG/HDL Ratio be an Accurate Predictor in the Determination of the Risk of Cerebrovascular Events in Youngsters?”.[1] We congratulate the author for this study. In addition, we would like to note a few points about the studied parameters for readers and the author.
This study included 112 patients aged 16–45 years and 110 patients aged >45 years in addition to a control group comprising 113 patients age 16-45 years range without a history of stroke. In the study, serum lipid levels [total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglyceride (TG)] were measured in all the patients, and it was stated that these measurements were performed using the standard laboratory method.
Nowadays, most laboratories measure total cholesterol and TG levels enzymatically, but measure HDL levels using one of the following methods: homogeneous, lipoprotein precipitation, electrophoresis, ultracentrifugation, and chromatography.[2] There is no description of the method used in the study. Methodological information in studies is significant for facilitating the understanding of the method-based interferences of the mentioned parameters. Moreover, there is no information about the instruments assayed and the reagents used. For instance, which method was used to determine LDL levels, Friedewald’s formula (Total cholesterol –(TG/5)- HDL) or one of the direct assay methods?[2, 3] Every assay instrument has its own characteristic parameter-based matrix effects. Therefore, it is essential to acknowledge the instrument and reagent brand/model in publishings.[4] Moreover, the limits of measured parameters (limit of detection) should be known prior to the study to eliminate statistically unacceptable edge values; otherwise, it would be inevitable to see high standard deviation values like TG 186.10±176.14 in the study. Inclusion of the abovementioned information in the paper may enhance reader comprehension and provide insights for further similar studies. In conclusion, getting in contact with laboratory specialists and discussing the characteristics/interferences/instrument-based assay dynamics of measured parameters would minimize errors or prevent ambiguity.
Footnotes
Conflict of Interest: None declared.
Authorship Contributions: Concept – H.A., M.K., O.K.; Design – H.A., M.K., O.K.; Supervision – H.A., M.K.; Materials – H.A., M.K., O.K.; Data collection &/or processing – H.A.; Analysis and/or interpretation – H.A., M.K., O.K.; Literature search – H.A., M.K., O.K.; Writing – H.A.; Critical review – H.A., M.K., O.K.
References
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- 2.Wu AHB. Tietz Clinical Guide to Laboratory Tests. 4th ed. Missouri: Elsevier Saunders; 2006. [Google Scholar]
- 3.Friedewald WT, Levy RI, Fredrickson DS. Estimation of the concentration of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in plasma, without use of the preparative ultracentrifuge. Clin Chem. 1972;18:499–502. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
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