APOB and metabolic syndrome: In addition, while generally associated with macrovascular complications, dyslipidemia has been shown to correlate with the status of DR; increased levels of triglycerides and low-density lipoproteins (LDL) in plasma as well as a concentration of LDL particles and apolipoprotein B (ApoB) in the retinal hard exudates have been associated with the severity of retinopathy [5,6].