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Lipoprotein(a) levels in systemic lupus erythematosus
E F Borba1, R D Santos, E Bonfa
1Rheumatology Division, University Medical School Hospital, São Paulo, Brazil.
Objective:
To determine lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] levels in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its possible correlation with thrombosis, disease activity, anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) and steroid therapy.
Methods:
Serum Lp(a) levels were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA) in 34 Caucasian patients with SLE and compared to 66 healthy subjects.
Results:
In patients with SLE Lp(a) levels were higher than in controls (42 +/- 35 vs 26 +/- 25 mg/dl, p = 0.01). Lp(a) levels were high (> or = 30 mg/dl) in 56% of the patients with SLE and in 30% of controls (p = 0.02) but were not correlated with the clinical and laboratory findings.
Conclusions:
Lp(a) levels are significantly higher in patients with SLE and are not influenced by disease activity, thrombosis, aCL and steroid therapy.