[Lipoprotein Lp(a): a risk factor for atherosclerosis].

To evaluate whether lipoprotein Lp(a) favors the development of coronary atherosclerosis and may be considered as a risk factor for acute myocardial infarction, we studied 185 patients with this conditions who where compared with a control group. Total cholesterol and cholesterol bound to the several lipoprotein fractions were simultaneously evaluated. Comparisons were carried out, the subjects being subdivided into age groups of 40-49, 50-59 and more than 60 years; they were also subdivided depending on the level of Lp(a) cholesterol (lower than 25 mg/dl, between 25 and 50 mg/dl and higher than 50 mg/dl). Lp(a) appeared as indicative of a vascular risk in the younger groups. The incidence of myocardial infarction was higher when Lp(a) level was greater than 50 mg/dl.