PROSPECTIVE-STUDY OF LIPOPROTEIN(A) AS A RISK FACTOR FOR ATHEROSCLEROTIC CARDIOVASCULAR-DISEASE IN PATIENTS WITH DIABETES

OBJECTIVE- To assess whether lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is a risk factor f or atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS- We studied 221 patients with non-insulin-dependent diabe tes mellitus (NIDDM) without diabetic complications who were followed for 2.2-3.1 years. Their serum Lp(a) levels were semiquantified by a r apid electrophoretic method that accurately discriminates high from lo w serum Lp(a) at the 20 mg/dl level. RESULTS- Seven of 105 diabetic pa tients with a high serum Lp(a) experienced a clinical event related to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. This incidence was significan tly higher than that of the 110 diabetic patients with a low serum Lp( a). The logistic regression analysis revealed that Lp(a) was an indepe ndent risk factor for the event. CONCLUSIONS- Lp(a) is a significant r isk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in NIDDM.