Time course of serum Lp(a) in men after coronary artery bypass grafting

The serum Lp(a) time course was studied in 100 male patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The patients were randomized in a placebo (N = 50) and pravastatin treated (N = 50) group. The pravastatin regimen was 10 mg daily from the third postoperative day on and 20 mg daily after 1 week during 11 weeks. Lp(a) levels and serum lipids were analyzed at baseline, at 3 and 10 days, and at 4 and 12 weeks post-CABG. A decrease of serum Lp(a) levels at the third postoperative day was seen which parallels the changes noted with the other serum lipids when using extracorporeal circulation. In contrast with the other serum lipids, a slight but significant Lp(a) overshooting was noticed at day 10 followed by a decrease of the serum Lp(a) levels to preoperative levels 1 month after the acute event. The study clearly depicts that there is a significant time-dependent effect on the serum Lp(a) levels post-CABG and that there is no effect of treatment (pravastatin). The data also reveal that reliable postoperative Lp(a) measurements can be made at earliest 1 month post-CABG.