CASE-CONTROL STUDY OF SERUM LIPOPROTEIN(A) AND APOLIPOPROTEIN-A-I ANDAPOLIPOPROTEIN-B IN STROKE IN THE YOUNG

Objectives - Abnormalities of lipoprotein(a) and apolipoproteins A-I a nd B are being recognised as independent risk factors in ischaemic hea rt disease and atherosclerosis. There are no studies from India where stroke in the young constitutes nearly 20-30% of all strokes. Subjects and methods - Fasting serum lipids, lipoproteins, apolipoproteins A-I and B and lipoprotein(a) were measured in 50 patients aged less than 40 years presenting with completed stroke and 50 normal, age and sex-m atched control subjects. Apolipoproteins A-I and B were measured by im munoturbidimetry and lipoprotein(a) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent ass ay. Results - The serum total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-choles terol, VLDL-cholesterol, triglycerides and apolipoproteins A-I and B w ere not significantly different in the test group as compared to the c ontrols. However, serum lipoprotein(a) was significantly higher in the young stroke patients. Conclusion - These findings confirm the hypoth esis that an elevated serum lipoprotein(a) level is an important risk factor in the development of cerebral ischaemia in patients aged less than 40 years It may be worthwhile to study whether it is useful in id entifying patients most at risk for stroke.