This invention provides novel assays for the detection of dysfunctional
HDL. The assays are good diagnostics and/or prognostics for
atherosclerosis or other pathologies characterized by an inflammatory
response. In certain embodiments the methods involve measurements of
heme-related HDL-associated proteins (e.g., haptoglobin, hemopexin,
etc.), and/or measurements of the relative distribution of HDL-associated
proteins between HDL and the non-lipoprotein fractions of plasma/serum,
and/or measurements of the ability of pro-inflammatory HDL to consume
nitric oxide, and/or measurement of the ability of HDL to inhibit LDL
aggregation.