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The role of the lipid abnormalities as a risk factor for stroke remains controversial; very likely because only the standard lipid fractions are measured and because different causes of stroke are not considered. LDL phenotype B promotes atherogenesis and is recognized as a risk factor for ischemic heart disease, but its prevalence in ischemic stroke of distinct causes is unknown. Therefore we designed the study to investigate the prevalence of LDL phenotype B in stroke survivors with large vessel disease (LVD) or small vessel disease (SVD) and to establish the relationship between LDL phenotypes and basic lipid fractions in this group of patients. 59 patients (24 patients with LVD and 35 patients with SVD) being at least 3 months after ischemic stroke were included into the study. 30 sex- and age-matched subject served as controls. The concentrations of total cholesterol, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol, as well as triglycerides were measured and the LDL phenotype was determined using the potassium bromide density gradient ultracentrifugation. The LDL phenotype B was more frequent in patients with LVD (67%, p < 0.05) compared to patients with SVD and with controls. LDL phenotype B was also more frequent in patients with SVD (40%) and in all stroke survivors combined (51%), when compared with control group (17%, p < 0.05; chi-square test). Among stroke survivors, controls and studied subjects as a whole, those with LDL phenotype B revealed the lower concentration of HDL-cholesterol (1.19 +/- 0.33 vs. 1.46 +/- 0.42; 1.16 +/- 0.29 vs. 1.53 +/- 0.3 and 1.19 +/- 0.32 vs. 1.49 +/- 0.37, respectively; p < 0.05, Student t-test) when compared with carriers of LDL A phenotype. The LDL phenotype B is more frequent in ischemic stroke survivors compared to controls, and within the group of stroke survivors, LDL B is more prevalent in patients with LVD. The LDL phenotype B is associated with lower concentration of HDL-cholesterol.