Independent correlation between plasma lipoprotein(a) and angiographic coronary artery disease in NIDDM.

Abstract

To examine the correlation between angiographic coronary artery disease (CAD) and plasma lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] concentration in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). 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. 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. Plasma Lp(a) is a strong and independent correlate of the extent of angiographic CAD in symptomatic patients with NIDDM.