CORRELATION OF TODDLERS SERUM LIPOPROTEIN(A) CONCENTRATION WITH PARENTAL VALUES AND GRANDPARENTS CORONARY HEART-DISEASE - THE STRIP BABY STUDY

The correlation between lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) concentrations in child ren aged 7-24 months and their family members was determined and the a ssociation between the Lp(a) values of the children and a family histo ry of coronary heart disease (CHD) was assessed. The Lp(a) values of t he children correlated strongly with midparent Lp(a) values as early a s at 7 months of age (r = 0.54 to 0.59, p < 0.0001). This correlation was stronger than the correlation of serum total cholesterol and total cholesterol corrected for Lp(a)-cholesterol between children and pare nts. None of the parents had CHD. The median Lp(a) concentration of th e parents with a family history of CHD was significantly higher than t hat of parents with no such history (ill vs 87 mg/l, p = 0.024). Howev er, the children's Lp(a) levels were not associated with CHD in their grandparents. The genetic dependence of the Lp(a) concentration is alr eady evident in infancy. The Lp(a) concentration in young parents, but not in their 24-month-old children, is associated with CHD in grandpa rents. This may be explained by a dilution of the genetic influence on Lp(a) over two generations.