Serum lipoprotein (a) levels in 'normal' individuals, those with familial hypercholesterolaemia, and those with coronary artery disease.

Lipoprotein (Lp)(a) represents a quantitative genetic trait. Elevated Lp(a) levels (greater than 25-30 mg/dl) have been linked epidemiologically to cardiovascular disease. A high Lp(a) level seems to be an additional independent risk factor for the accelerated progression of atherosclerosis, although the exact mechanism involved is not yet known. Individuals with familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) have also been shown to have elevated Lp(a) levels, but again the reason for this is unclear. A preliminary investigation of serum Lp(a) levels in 30 apparently healthy individuals, 38 FH patients and 34 individuals with coronary artery disease (CAD) was conducted. Lp(a) levels were distributed over a wide range, varying from barely detectable to above 84.0 mg/dl. A greater incidence of elevated Lp(a) levels (greater than 30 mg/dl) was found in both the FH group (71%) and the CAD group (41%) compared with 'normal' individuals (30%). Analysis of the circulating Lp(a) level may be useful in determining an individual's long-term risk for cardiovascular disease.