Plasma Lp(a) values in familial hypercholesterolemia and its relation to coronary heart disease

Background and Aim: To analyze plasma Lp(a) levels and examine different ri sk factors and coronary heart disease (CHD) in a sample of genetically diag nosed familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) patients. Methods and Results: Ninety heterozygous FH patients and 41 non-FH relative s were enrolled in a study to evaluate their plasma and lipoprotein cholest erol, as well as their triglyceride and Lp(a) levels. We found no differenc es in plasma Lp(a) levels and log transformed values between 90 FM subjects and their 41 unaffected relatives (22.3 mg/dl +/-19.4 vs 17.7mg/dl +/-21.3 and 1.12+/-0.5 vs 0.96+/-0.54) nor between null allele and defective allel e FH subjects (log Lp (a) levels 2.013+/-0.282 vs 1.959+/-0.151). FH CHD were significantly older, and had higher mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure and higher mean plasma triglyceride levels than FH CHD -. No diffe rences in mean and log transformed Lp (a) plasma concentrations were found. Conclusions: Plasma Lp(a) levels are not related to LDL receptor status and class mutations, nor to the presence of CHD in FH patients. Nutr Metab Car diovasc Dis (1999) 9: 41-44 (C) 1999, Medikal Press.