Association of lipoprotein(a) with aortic dissection

Yiheng Yang1, Yuting Hong2, Weihua Yang3

  • 1Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.

Clinical Cardiology
|August 4, 2022
PubMed

Insights

High levels of Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] strongly correlate with aortic dissection (AD). This association remains significant even when accounting for other cardiovascular risk factors, highlighting Lp(a) as a key indicator for AD risk.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Genetics and Genomics
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is a known risk factor for cardiovascular diseases including coronary atherosclerotic heart disease, aortic stenosis, stroke, and heart failure.
  • The specific association between Lp(a) levels and aortic dissection (AD) requires further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] levels and the risk of aortic dissection (AD).

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective case-control study involving 200 patients with AD and 200 matched controls.
  • Data collected included demographic information, cardiovascular risk factors, and lipid profiles, with a focus on Lp(a) levels.
  • Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed to assess the association between Lp(a) and AD.

Main Results:

  • Patients with AD exhibited significantly higher median Lp(a) concentrations compared to the control group (152.50 vs. 81.75 mg/L).
  • Elevated Lp(a) levels, particularly in the highest quartile, were strongly associated with AD (OR, 8.03; 95% CI, 2.85-22.62).
  • This association was consistent across different demographic subgroups, including men and women, and across age groups.

Conclusions:

  • Elevated Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] levels represent a significant independent risk factor for aortic dissection (AD).
  • These findings underscore the potential role of Lp(a) as a biomarker for identifying individuals at higher risk of AD.
Abstract

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