HealthNews Detecting the Hidde ust when "cholester- ol coun- ters" final- ly got the good and the bad choles- terols sort- ed out, along comes a jarring fact: More than half the people who suf- fer heart attacks and strokes have normal cholesterol levels. in up to 20 percent of these cases a blood fac- tor cal ledApoprotein B is the culprit. Working on the pio- neering team for Apoprotein B research at the Mayo Clinic was James J. Maciejko, Ph.D., who now directs Sinai's Center for Lipid Metabolism and Ather- osclerosis. Dr. Maciejko followed up his Mayo laboratory research with clinical research at Sinai that led to an F.D.A.-ap- proved test for measur- ing Apoprotein B. Apoprotein B has been the missing link in the blood-fat story. It transports and metab- olizes blood throughout the body. High concen- trations cause choles- terol to be imbedded in vessel walls where it builds up and may eventually lead to a heart attack or stroke. "We have confirmed at Sinai and other re- search centers around the country that many people with low to nor- mal cholesterol have potentially threatening levels of Apoprotein B," Dr. Maciejko says. "New discoveries like the Apoprotein B test are providing a promis- ing future for all those who have gone about their lives unaware that they are at risk of heart disease." "The center's goal," he continues, "is to pro- vide an avenue for pre- vention." Also, he notes, those who have already suffered cardiac prob- lems can avoid recur- rences if they are identified with high Apoprotein B levels. The center Dr. Maciejko directs has three components: a clinic, where patients with blood fat problems are diagnosed and treated; a lab, where basic research is con- ducted; and the lipid laboratory — the only one of its kind in Michi- gan. Dr. Maciejko is par- ticularly proud of the laboratory where re- sults are standardized to meet the require- ments of the National Heart Luna and Blood institute, which named Sinai a Center of Ex- cellence. When there is a dis- crepancy in blood lipid level results — which can vary by up to 60 percent from lab to lab — Sinai is the place in Michigan where blood samples are taken for a definitive and accurate measurement. For the patient who comes to Sinai in the first place, this means reliable in- formation which is im- mediately available. 'Many of the patients I see have been treated for two years with no results," Dr. Maciejko says. "1. hear from them: I've tried every drug on the market and nothing works.' After a complete work-up, a specific, often esoteric problem is found and the right drug is prescribed in the right dosages." Dr. Maciejko con- cludes, "The research component at Sinai makes us better able to offer the community new drugs, as well as new ways of using existing drugs." ( HealthNews HealthNews is published as a commu- nity service to provide up-to-date information about Sinai Hospital, its physicians and services. HealthNews is produced by Sinai Hospital's Corporate Communica- tions/Marketing Department. For more information, please write Sinai Hospi- tal Corporate Communications/ Marketing, 6767 W. Outer Drive, Detroit, Michigan 48235. Sinai's Center for Lipid Metabolism and Atherosclerosis uses leading-edge research coupled with patient education to treat individuals with high cholesterol. Copyright 1993 by Sinai Hospital. SP E CI AL ADVERTISEMENT Founded in 1953, Sinai Hospital is a 603-bed tertiary care facility on a 36-acre campus centrally located in metropoli- tan Detroit. Michigan's only Jewish- sponsored hospital, Sinai has numerous satellite locations throughout the area.