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Independent correlation between plasma lipoprotein(a) and angiographic coronary artery disease in NIDDM
G F Watts1, R M ap Gwilym, J Mazurkiewicz
1Department of Chemical Pathology, United Medical School, Guy's Hospital, London, U.K.
Objective:
To examine the correlation between angiographic coronary artery disease (CAD) and plasma lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] concentration in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM).
Research Design And Methods:
In this cross-sectional study of 36 patients with NIDDM who underwent coronary angiography, CAD was assessed visually using a coronary artery score (CAS), and plasma Lp(a) was measured immunoturbidimetrically.
Results:
Lp(a) concentration was significantly higher in patients in the middle and upper tertiles of CASs (> 4) compared with those in the lower tertile (< or = 4); geometric mean 0.30 g/l (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.22-0.40) vs. 0.12 g/l (0.08-0.17, P = 0.002). Lp(a) was significantly and positively correlated with the CAS (R2 23%, P = 0.006), independent of other cardiovascular risk factors, including lipoprotein related variables and glycated hemoglobin.
Conclusions:
Plasma Lp(a) is a strong and independent correlate of the extent of angiographic CAD in symptomatic patients with NIDDM.