Lipoprotein (a) Levels in Relation to Severity of Coronary Artery Disease in North Indian Patients.

BACKGROUND

Lipoprotein (a) [Lp (a)] is an established risk marker of coronary artery disease which is independent from other risk factors.

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to address the association between Lp (a) and CAD risk in North Indians. To evaluate whether high levels of lipoprotein (a) [Lp (a)] is a predictor of risk and is related to the severity of CAD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study done on 360 patients presenting with chest pain. Coronary angiography revealed CAD in 270 patients and 90 patients without CAD. Lipoprotein (a) level, lipid profile, fasting blood glucose, anthropometric and clinical parameters were analyzed.

RESULTS

Lipoprotein (a) 21.0 mg/dL is associated with the presence of coronary lesions (P = 0.0001). A highly significant difference in Lp (a) levels was observed between normal coronaries vs. single-vessel disease, double-and triple-vessel disease ( P < 0.0001). Body mass index (BMI) was significantly raised in CAD group compared to normal coronary.

CONCLUSION

Multivariate analysis found that Lp (a) was considered an independent predictor for severity of CAD and Lp (a) levels 21.0 mg/dL are associated with severe patterns of coronary atherosclerosis.