[Levels of lipoprotein(a), other lipids and lipoproteins in adolescents from the health area of Alcoy].

Several epidemiological and necroscopic evidences suggest that, despite that the ischemic cardiopathy (IC) can be generally detected only since the fourth decade of life, it starts during the first years of life and adolescence. We have studied 278 teen-agers, with 13-14 years of age, attending the 8th school year (primary education) in five schools of Alcoy. 117 were males and 161 females. Levels of lipoprotein (a) (Lp[a]), total cholesterol (TC), cholesterol linked to high density lipoproteins (C-HDL) and its subfractions (C-HDL2 and C-HDL3), triglycerides (TG), apoproteins A-I and B (Apo A and Apo B) were determined. Cholesterol linked to low density lipoproteins (C-LDL) was calculated using the Friedewald-Fredrickson's equation. Mean values and standard deviation were: Lp(a) = 29.99 +/- 33.61 mg/dl., TC = 160.4 +/- 25.4 mg/dl., C-HDL = 54.0 +/- 12.3 mg/dl., C-HDL2 = 8.7 +/- 6.5 mg/dl., C-HDL3 = 46.2 +/- 18.6 mg/dl., TG = 72.6 +/- 26.8 mg/dl., C-LDL = 91.6 +/- 22.0 mg/dl., Apo A = 136.4 +/- 24.2 mg/dl., Apo B = 60.7 +/- 21.7 mg/dl. 38% teen-agers had Lp(a) levels higher than 30 mg/dl., 7.5% had levels of TC higher than 200 mg/dl., 12.8% had levels of C-HDL equal or higher than 40 mg/dl. and 4.7% had levels of C-LDL equal or higher than 130 mg/dl. From our study, we can conclude that, despite that the levels of TC, C-LDL and C-HDL in these teen-agers are within relatively normal limits, there is a high percentage with levels of Lp(a) actually considered as a risk factor.