Abstract: This present invention provides methods and kits for identifying patients at risk of suffering from a drug induced liver injury, particularly for an antioxidant drug, or for identifying patients who are suffering from early stages of a liver disorder by assessing the levels of apolipoprotein in a sample of the patient and comparing that to a reference value. The reference value is predetermined by identifying a population sample and determining an upper limit of normal value. This value is then used as a reference point for comparison of apolipoprotein levels from patient samples. In one embodiment, apolipoprotein levels are combined with ATL and/or total bilirubin levels for predicting liver damage, hepatotoxicity or hepatic events after drug administration.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining whether a compound binds to a lipoprotein such as LDL or VLDL in a manner which will lower plasma cholesterol is provided that includes assessing the ability of the compound to form a complex with the lipoprotein, e.g., LDL or VLDL, and then determining whether the newly formed complex causes a change in the structure of apoB-100 that results in increased binding affinity to the LDL receptor. Also disclosed is a method for lowering cholesterol in a host in need thereof, including a human, is provided that includes the administration of an effective amount of a compound which binds to cholesterol-carrying lipoprotein (e.g. LDL or VLDL) in a manner that alters the three dimensional configuration of the lipoprotein and increases the binding affinity of the apoB-100 protein to the LDL receptor, including those on the surface of a hepatic cell.