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Lipoprotein(a) in Diabetic Patients and Normoglycemic Relatives in Familial NIDDM

  1. Gilberto Velho, MD, PHD,
  2. Danielle Erlich, MD, PHD,
  3. Elisabeth Turpin, PHD,
  4. Dominique Néel, MD, PHD,
  5. Daniel Cohen, MD, PHD,
  6. Philippe Froguel, MD, PHD and
  7. Philippe Passa, MD
  1. Human Polymorphism Study Center (C.E.P.H.); and the Endocrinology Department and the Laboratory of Biochemistry, Llpids and Proteins Unit, Hospital Saint Louis Paris, France
  1. Address correspondence and reprint requests to Gilberto Velho, MD, PHD, Centre D'étude du Polymorphisme Humain, 27 Rue Juliette Dodu, 75010 Paris, France.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To compare lipoprotein(a) levels in diabetic patients and normoglycemic relatives in familial NIDDM and to assess whether Lp(a) is a risk factor for myocardial infarction in this population.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We compared 577 patients and 261 normoglycemic relatives from 189 NIDDM multiplex families with 49 unrelated healthy individuals. of the 577, 23 patients with previously documented myocardial infarction were further analyzed as a separate group.

RESULTS Lp(a) concentrations in diabetic patients, normoglycemic relatives, and the control group were not significantly different. Variance of Lp(a) in a given individual could not be accounted for by any clinical or biological parameter, but was strongly related to the mean Lp(a) value in his or her family. Diabetic patients with previous myocardial infarction (and their relatives) had significantly higher levels of Lp(a) than patients without coronary heart disease complaints.

CONCLUSIONS Lp(a) concentration in familial NIDDM was not related to the degree of glucose intolerance, but presented a strong familial aggregation. High Lp(a) levels seem to be an independent risk factor for myocardial infarction in this NIDDM cohort.

  • Received July 16, 1992.
  • Revision received February 11, 1993.
  • Accepted February 11, 1993.
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