Lipoprotein -- an independent risk factor for CVD

A case control study done to evaluate the Lipoprotein(a) [LP(a)] as a risk factor for CVD (cerebrovascular disease). 150 non-smokers, non-alcoholic subjects free from DM, renal disease, thyroid disease and liver disease were included in the study. Among them 120 were CVD cases and 30 were age and sex matched healthy control. Subjects were grouped as group-I (30, healthy control), Group-II (60, Hemorrhagic CVD) and group-III (60, Ischemic CVD). Fasting (12 hr) blood samples were collected from all subjects and in CVD cases samples were collected after 24 hr of attack. Lipid profile and LP(a) conc. were measured in all samples. Mean serum LP(a) conc. in Group-I, Group-II and Group-III were found to be 17.6 7.4 mg/dl, 31.9 15.6 mg/dl and 44.8 24.0 mg/dl respectively. Both the groups of CVD cases showed significantly higher level of serum LP(a) conc. compared to healthy control. CVD cases did not differ statistically in respect of their lipid profile when compared with control. Moreover the serum LP (a) conc. of CVD cases found to show no correlation with their lipid profile, suggesting the serum LP(a) conc. a possible independent risk factor for CVD.