Reduced lipoprotein (a) in patients with severe hypertriglyceridaemia

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Research
• Lipid Metabolism
• Clinical Biochemistry

Background:

• Severe hypertriglyceridaemia (HTG) is a lipid disorder associated with increased cardiovascular risk.
• Lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] is an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
• The relationship between severe HTG and Lp(a) levels is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between plasma Lp(a) and lipid profiles in patients diagnosed with severe HTG.
• To compare Lp(a) levels in severe HTG patients versus normolipidaemic controls.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study involving a retrospective chart review of patients from a Lipid Genetics Clinic.
• Plasma Lp(a) levels were measured and compared between 154 severe HTG patients (triglycerides ≥ 10 mmol/l) and 272 healthy controls.
• Correlations between Lp(a), triglycerides (TG), apolipoprotein B (apo B), and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Median Lp(a) levels were significantly lower in severe HTG patients (5.0 mg/dl) compared to control subjects (10.2 mg/dl).
• No significant correlation was found between Lp(a) and TG or non-HDL-C in the severe HTG group.
• A modest positive correlation was observed between Lp(a) and apo B in both severe HTG and control groups.

Conclusions:

• Patients with severe HTG exhibit lower plasma Lp(a) concentrations than normolipidaemic individuals.
• The underlying biological mechanism for this observed inverse relationship remains unclear.
• These findings generate hypotheses and highlight the need for further investigation into the Lp(a)-HTG connection.