The Association between Serum Lipoprotein (a) and Other Cardiac Risk Factors with the Severity of Coronary Artery Disease

Several meta-analyses have provided support for an association between lipoprotein (a) [Lp (a)] and coronary disease, but the correlation of Lp (a) and other coronary risk factors with severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) are ambiguous. In this case control study, plasma Lp (a) concentration, lipid profile, diabetes, hypertension, smoking were evaluated in 108 patients with and without CAD (Case: 55 and Control: 53) who were admitted at heart center in Shahid Beheshti hospital of Zanjan in 2009. Also patients were classified into two risk groups according to their major risk factors; low risk (with two or few risk factors) and high risk (with three and more risk factors). The collected data was analyzed with using chi square, independent sample t-test, fisher s exact test, Mann-Whitney test, Kruskal Wallis test and Pearson s correlation coefficient. The mean concentration of Lp (a) in the case and control groups were 60±11 mg/dL and 32±3 mg/dL, respectively (P=0.054). 41.8% of the case group and 22.6% of the control group have abnormal level of Lp (a) (≥30 mg/dL) (P=0.03). Mean lipoprotein (a) was also higher in three vessels disease compared control group (46 ±41 vs. 31 ±23) and maximum level of lipoprotein (a) in control group was 92 mg/dL and in three vessels disease was 520 mg/dL. Between other cardiac risk factors, diabetes was more frequent in case than control groups (29.1% vs 5.7%) and had a significant relationship with severity of coronary disease (P=0.001). The main findings of this study were that mean Lp(a) levels were higher in the three vessels group compared to control and diabetes had significant relationship with the severity of coronary disease.