INDEPENDENT CORRELATION BETWEEN PLASMA LIPOPROTEIN(A) AND ANGIOGRAPHIC CORONARY-ARTERY DISEASE IN NIDDM

OBJECTIVE- To examine the correlation between angiographic coronary ar tery disease (CAD) and plasma lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] concentration in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). RESEARCH DESIGN AND M ETHODS- In this cross-sectional study of 36 patients with NIDDM who un derwent coronary angiography, CAD was assessed visually using a corona ry artery score (GAS), and plasma Lp(a) was measured immunoturbidimetr ically. RESULTS- Lp(a) concentration was significantly higher in patie nts in the middle and upper tertiles of CASs (>4) compared with those in the lower tertile (less than or equal to 4), geometric mean 0.30 g/ l (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.22-0.40) vs. 0.12 g/l (0.08-0.17, P = 0.002). Lp(a) was significantly and positively correlated with the C AS (R(2) 23%, P = 0.006), independent of other cardiovascular risk fac tors, including lipoprotein related variables and glycated hemoglobin. CONCLUSIONS- Plasma Lp(a) is a strong and independent correlate of th e extent of angiographic CAD in symptomatic patients with NIDDM.