Lp(a) levels in different types of dyslipidemia in the French population.

The serum lipoprotein Lp(a) concentration was measured in 1065 individuals in order to assess whether there was a relation between the type of dyslipidemia and the level of Lp(a). Males and females, aged between 2 and 83 years old, were included in the study. Quantification was performed by an immunonephelometric technique. The whole population was divided into normolipidemic (NL), type IIa without xanthoma (type IIa), type IIa with xanthoma (FH), type IIb and type IV phenotypes. Lp(a) level was arbitrarily divided into 5 subclasses in each group of dyslipidemia and in the normolipidemic group. In addition each group was divided according to sex and whether or not they were under treatment. We observed a significant difference between the median Lp(a) level of the normolipidemic group (NL) and of the dyslipidemic group as a whole. Median Lp(a) levels in the 4 dyslipidemic groups did not differ significantly. Sex, age and treatment did not influence the distribution of Lp(a) values distribution. Only weak correlations (Spearman's rank test) were observed between Lp(a) and other lipid parameters (total cholesterol, LDL, apo B, HDL, triglycerides): the highest correlation (r' = 0.15) was between Lp(a) and apo B. We conclude that Lp(a) level is not influenced by the type of dyslipidemia, sex or hypolipidemic drugs.