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Lipoprotein A profiles in Arab newborns
Insights
Newborns have low Lipoprotein A (LpA) levels, which are higher in females. These levels are not linked to maternal factors, birth weight, or BMI, indicating early life cardiovascular risk is independent of these variables.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Science
- Neonatal Research
- Lipid Metabolism
Background:
- Lipoprotein A (LpA) is a genetically determined lipoprotein.
- LpA is an independent risk factor for premature atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases.
- Coronary heart disease is a significant cause of mortality in Kuwait.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure serum LpA concentrations in Arab newborns.
- To establish reference values for neonatal LpA.
- To investigate the relationship between neonatal LpA and maternal/infant factors.
Main Methods:
- Serum LpA concentration was analyzed in cord blood.
- 107 Arab newborns were studied.
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used for LpA analysis.
Main Results:
- Mean LpA was 54.8 mg/L (median 33 mg/L), with most below 100 mg/L.
- Female infants had significantly higher mean LpA levels than males (77.27 vs 40.2 mg/L).
- Neonatal LpA was not influenced by maternal characteristics, delivery type, birth weight, or BMI.
Conclusions:
- Neonatal LpA concentration is generally low at birth.
- LpA levels at birth are independent of maternal characteristics, birth weight, and BMI.
- Early life LpA development is not associated with common neonatal factors.
Background:
Lipoprotein A (LpA) is an intriguing lipoprotein with unquestionable genetic determination which is expressed early in life. The increasing interest in LpA is due to its established recognition as an important independent risk factor for premature atherosclerosis in cardiovascular diseases. Coronary heart disease is a major cause of morbidity and premature mortality in Kuwait. The present study was designed to measure serum LpA concentrations in Arab newborns to establish reference values for LpA in newborns and its relationship to factors present in the mother and baby.
Methods:
Serum LpA concentration was analyzed in the cord blood of 107 Arab newborns by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results:
The mean and median LpA were 54.8 mg/L and 33 mg/L, respectively (range 1-500 mg/L). The frequency distribution of LpA in cord blood was skewed to the right, with the highest frequencies of LpA below 100 mg/L. Mean LpA levels were significantly higher in female infants compared with male infants at birth (77.27 +/- 108.12 mg/L vs 40.2 +/- 41.43 mg/L, P < 0.05). Lipoprotein A concentrations in newborns were not influenced by material characteristics or type of delivery. Moreover, neonatal LpA concentration did not correlate with birthweight (BW) or body mass index (BMI).
Conclusions:
Lipoprotein A concentration at birth is low and is not related to maternal characteristics. Additionally, the development of circulating LpA in serum at birth was independent of BW and BMI.