DO GONADOTROPINS INFLUENCE SERUM LIPOPROTEIN(A) CONCENTRATIONS - OBSERVATIONS ON CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS AND ADULTS

Data from 7045 subjects were examined. The main groups consisted of th e following in- and outpatients: 1414 neonates, 2554 children and adol escents (1336 males, 1218 females), 1209 women directly postpartum, 78 6 non-pregnant women and 1090 men aged between 18 and 100 years of age . Unless otherwise stated, persons were under medical observation or t herapy. The results were obtained over a three-year period using an in -house immunoluminometric assay specific for apolipoprotein(a) using t wo polyclonal antibodies and a single lot of reagents to allow for com parability of results. Girls aged between 10 and 12 years of age had s ignificantly higher serum lipoprotein(a) (median 124 mg/l) levels than boys (median 88 mg/l) of the same age (p < 0.05 - Mann-Whitney U-test ). Post-pubertal lipoprotein(a) concentrations were not significantly different from pre-pubertal levels. Between the ages of 0-9 and 13-17 years there were no statistically significant sex-linked differences i n serum lipoprotein(a). In adults, lipoprotein(a) serum levels were si gnificantly higher in women (median 163 mg/l) aged between 50 and 59 y ears, when compared with men (median 128 mg/l) of the same age group ( p = 0.05 - Krustal-Wallis one way ANOVA followed by the Nemenyi test). There was no significant difference in serum lipoprotein(a) concentra tions between healthy women (median 91 mg/l), women direct postpartum (median 116 mg/l) and in-patient women (median 117 mg/l) aged between 18 and 41 years of age (p = 0.11-0.96). There was no correlation betwe en maternal lipoprotein(a) and birth weight in mature newborns (r = -0 .028-0.085). The results may indicate a direct influence of gonadotrop ins at puberty and during the menopause which cause an increase in ser um lipoprotein(a) concentrations.