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Lipoprotein(a) Serum Levels Predict Pulse Wave Velocity in Subjects in Primary Prevention for Cardiovascular Disease

Arrigo F G Cicero1,2, Federica Fogacci1,2, Giuseppe Derosa3

  • 1Hypertension and Cardiovascular Risk Factors Research Center, Medical and Surgical Sciences Department, Sant'Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, Via Albertoni 15, 40138 Bologna, Italy.

Biomedicines
|March 25, 2022
PubMed

Insights

High lipoprotein(a) levels predict arterial stiffness in individuals with large apolipoprotein(a) isoforms, but not those with small isoforms. This finding highlights the importance of apolipoprotein(a) size in cardiovascular risk assessment.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Science
  • Lipid Metabolism
  • Vascular Biology

Background:

  • High lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] levels are linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.
  • Apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)] isoform size may influence this risk, with smaller isoforms often associated with higher risk.
  • Early vascular aging, indicated by arterial stiffness, is a key CVD predictor.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if Lp(a) levels predict early vascular aging (arterial stiffness) in individuals without CVD.
  • To determine if apo(a) isoform size modifies the predictive value of Lp(a) for vascular aging.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of a subset of Brisighella Heart Study participants (n=978) free from CVD.
  • Measurement of arterial stiffness using carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV).
  • Step-wise linear regression to identify predictors of cfPWV, stratified by apo(a) isoform size (small vs. large).

Main Results:

  • Overall, Lp(a) levels did not predict cfPWV in the study cohort.
  • In individuals with large apo(a) isoforms, higher Lp(a) levels were significantly associated with increased arterial stiffness.
  • In individuals with small apo(a) isoforms, Lp(a) did not predict arterial stiffness.

Conclusions:

  • Apolipoprotein(a) isoform size is a critical factor in the relationship between Lp(a) and arterial stiffness.
  • Lipoprotein(a) may serve as a specific predictor of vascular aging in individuals with large apo(a) isoforms.
  • These findings suggest personalized risk assessment based on both Lp(a) levels and apo(a) size is warranted.

Keywords:
Lp(a)apo(a)apolipoprotein(a)arterial stiffnesskringleslipoprotein(a)pulse wave velocity

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