Independent Correlation Between Plasma Lipoprotein(a) and Angiographie Coronary Artery Disease in NIDDM
- Gerald F Watts, MD,
- Rhiannon M Ap Gwilym, BSC,
- Janina Mazurkiewicz, MSC and
- John Coltart, MD
- Departments of Chemical Pathology & Cardiology, United Medical & Dental Schools of Guy's & St. Thomas' Hospitals St. Thomas' Campus, London, U.K
- Address correspondence and reprint requests to Gerald F. Watts, MD, University Department of Medicine, Royal Perth Hospital, Box X2213 GPO, Perth 6001, Western Australia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the correlation between angiographie 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 immunotur-bidimetrically.
RESULTS Lp(a) concentration was significantly higher in patients in the middle and upper tenues of CASs (>4) compared with those in the lower tenue (≤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 angiographie CAD in symptomatic patients with NIDDM.
- Received March 11, 1994.
- Revision received September 1, 1994.
- Accepted September 1, 1994.
- Copyright © 1995 by the American Diabetes Association
