THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SERUM LIPOPROTEIN(A) AND RESTENOSIS AFTER INITIAL ELECTIVE PERCUTANEOUS TRANSLUMINAL CORONARY ANGIOPLASTY

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the possible link between l ipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) and the occurrence of restenosis after initial e lective percutaneous transluminal coronary angiopasty (PTCA). Serum li pids, including Lp(a), total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholestero l, LDL-cholesterol, apolipoprotein A-I (Apo A-I), and apolipoprotein B (Apo B), and the Apo B/Apo A-I ratio were examined in 63 consecutive patients (41 men and 22 women, average age 63+/-8 years) who underwent initial elective PTCA in our department. Forty two target lesions wer e in left anterior descending, 10 were in left circumflex and 11 were in right coronary branches. Restenosis was observed in 22 patients (35 %) 6.4+/-2.6 months after PTCA. The serum Lp(a) level was significantl y higher in the restenosis group than in the non-restenosis group (38. 0 vs 19.9 mg/dl, p<0.05). A significant correlation was observed betwe en serum Lp(a) levels and the degree of % restenosis after PTCA (r=0.5 57, p<0.001). However, other lipids showed no significant relationship to restenosis. In addition, the % stenosis before PTCA was found to b e related to the occurrence of restenosis after successful PTCA. We co nclude that the serum Lp(a) level has a close correlation with the deg ree of % restenosis after PTCA, and may be a useful index for predicti ng the possibility of restenosis after PTCA, especially in patients wi th an Lp(a) level above 30 mg/dl.