Lipoprotein(a) is a potential coronary risk factor.

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Clinical Biochemistry

Background:

• Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) is an emerging risk factor for coronary artery disease.
• Quantitative assessment of Lp(a) in relation to other risk factors in patients undergoing coronary angiography is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantitatively assess the relationship between serum Lp(a) levels and other coronary risk factors.
• To determine the association of these risk factors with the number of coronary vessels involved in 1,006 patients.

Main Methods:

• Seventeen coronary risk factors were quantified in 1,006 patients undergoing coronary cineangiography.
• Multiple regression analysis was employed to evaluate the relationship between risk factors and the number of affected coronary vessels.

Main Results:

• Age, Lp(a), impaired glucose tolerance, total cholesterol, and cerebrovascular accidents showed significant positive associations with coronary artery disease severity.
• High-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) levels were inversely correlated with disease severity.
• Lp(a) emerged as an independent predictor of coronary artery disease, with a beta weight of 0.174 (p<0.001).

Conclusions:

• Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) is an independent, potential, and modifiable risk factor for coronary artery disease.
• Reducing serum Lp(a) levels is important for the clinical management of patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD).