REFERENCE VALUES OF LIPOPROTEIN(A) IN A F RENCH POPULATION

Objectives: The aim of this work is to study the effect of different b iological factors that could affect Lp(a) level in a presumably health y population and to establish reference limits. Methods: We selected 7 23 subjects (367 men and 356 women) for the age interval 4 to 64 years for evaluation. Results: The distribution of Lp(a) is not Gaussian; 5 0.5% of subjects had Lp(a) concentrations under 0.10 g/l and the value for the 75th percentile was 0.27 g/l and 0.57 g/l for the 90th percen tile. No relationship was observed between Lp(a) concentration and cho lesterolaemia, triglyceridaemia, glycaemia, inflammatory proteins (oro somucoide and CRP), overweight, tobacco consumption and oral contracep tive use. The menopause state in women was a factor correlated with in creased Lp(a) but this increase was not significant. Moreover, alcohol consumption (more than 44 g per day in men and more than 22 g per day in women) was associated with lower Lp(a) values. Among familial card iovascular risks, only paternal listing of hypertension was associated with Lp(a) concentration in men. Conclusion: The measurement of Lp(a) in a young subject could be used as a genetic marker of cardiovascula r risk associated with abnormal lipid metabolism and thrombosis phenom ena.