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Lipoprotein (a) in patients with spontaneous venous thromboembolism

Rainer Vormittag1, Thomas Vukovich, Milena Stain

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine I, Division of Hematology and Blood Coagulation, University Hospital of Vienna, Austria.

Thrombosis Research
|April 29, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Elevated lipoprotein (a) (Lp (a)) is not associated with an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). This study found no significant difference in Lp (a) levels between patients with deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism and healthy controls.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Thrombosis Research
  • Lipidology

Background:

  • Elevated lipoprotein (a) (Lp (a)) is a known risk factor for coronary heart disease and stroke.
  • Previous studies on the association between Lp (a) and venous thromboembolism (VTE) have yielded contradictory results.
  • Investigating Lp (a) as a potential independent risk factor for VTE is crucial for understanding thrombosis risk profiles.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if elevated Lp (a) levels are an independent risk factor for spontaneous symptomatic VTE.
  • To compare risk profiles between patients with thrombosis and healthy controls.
  • To analyze differences in Lp (a) levels in patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE).

Main Methods:

  • Investigated Lp (a) levels in 128 patients with DVT, 105 patients with PE, and 122 healthy controls.
  • Measured Lp (a) using an immunoturbidimetric assay (Tina-quant(R), Roche).
  • Analyzed Lp (a) levels as both continuous and categorical variables (above 300 mg/L).

Main Results:

  • Median Lp (a) levels (mg/L) were similar across groups: 170 in DVT patients, 140 in PE patients, and 126 in controls.
  • Odds ratios for VTE per 100 mg/L increase in Lp (a) were not statistically significant.
  • Prevalence of Lp (a) > 300 mg/L did not differ significantly among DVT, PE, and control groups.

Conclusions:

  • No association was found between Lp (a) levels and the risk of VTE.
  • This finding applies regardless of whether DVT occurred with or without PE.
  • Lp (a) does not appear to be an independent risk factor for spontaneous symptomatic VTE.
Abstract

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