EVALUATION OF LIPOPROTEIN (A) [LP (A)] AS A RISK FACTOR FOR CORONARY-ARTERY DISEASE IN THE TURKISH POPULATION

Objective: Lipoprotein (a) [Lp (a)] is an atherogenic particle that st ructur-ally resembles a low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particle but con tains a molecule of apolipoprotein (a) attached to apolipoprotein B-10 0 by a disulfide bond. Because of the fact that elevated plasma levels of Lp (a) have been shown to be an independent risk factor for corona ry artery disease (CAD), we determined plasma Lp (a) levels in CAD for Turkish population, and compared them with previous findings of some developed countries. Results: The mean plasma Lp (a) levels in CAD gro up (mean +/- SD; 0.41 +/- 0.21, g/L) was found approximately twofold h igher than that of the control group (0.21 +/- 0.17 g/L). Also, it was found to be higher than the mean levels of CAD group in the other pop ulations described in previous reports. But CAD prevalence in the Turk ish population is lower than in those of developed countries, especial ly the United States. Conclusions: We concluded that the interaction b etween plasma Lp (a) levels and many other factors such as face and he redity affecting development of CAD may show different effects for dev elopment of CAD in each of those populations separately.