LIPOPROTEIN(A) LEVELS IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH DIABETES

Objective. To determine lipoprotein(a) in children and adolescents wit h IDDM and assess its relation with Lp(a) levels in their first degree relatives. Research design and methods. in a cross-sectional study we included 141 IDDM patients, (58 male and 83 female) with mean ages 12 .2 +/- 2.8 and 12.6 +/- 3.1 years, respectively. Patients with microal buminuria, hepatopathy, thyroid dysfunction, infectious disease, acute decompensation or surgery three months prior to the study, were exclu ded. Clinical history, physical examination, blood chemistry, glycosil ated hemoglobin, microalbuminuria and lipid profile including total ch olesterol triglycerides, HDL-C, Apo A-I, Apo B and Lp(a) were determin ed. Parents and non-diabetic siblings were also studied when feasible. Results. Mean plasma concentration of total cholesterol, HDL-C and Ap o A-I were significantly higher in diabetic boys compared to their non -diabetic sibs. Mean Lp(a) plasma values and the prevalence of Lp(a) > 30 mg/dL were similar in the IDDM patients, their healthy sibs and par ents. Hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia were more frequent among the IDDM patients. No correlation was found between HbA(1), and Lp(a) concentrations. However, a correlation was observed between Lp( a) plasma concentrations of parents and their diabetic and healthy off spring. Conclusion. Diabetes mellitus does not seem to affect Lp(a) le vels. These data are consistent with a genetic regulation of Lp(a) pla sma levels.