Genetic epidemiology of the apolipoprotein(a) polymorphism and its role inrenal diseases and Type-I diabetes mellitus

Lipoprotein(a) is a highly atherogenic particle. The plasma concentrations of this lipoprotein are strongly related to a genetically determined size p olymorphism of apolipoprotein(a). This article reviews some pathogenetic ch aracteristics of the apolipoprotein(a) polymorphism besides its known effec t on the lipoprotein(a) plasma concentrations. Those are the relation of th e apolipoprotein(a) phenotype with atherogenesis, the apolipoprotein(a) phe notype-specific elevation of lipoprotein(a) in hemodialysis patients and th e advantages of this polymorphism for the atherosclerosis risk evaluation i n high-risk patients. It furthermore discusses the observed association bet ween the low molecular weight apolipoprotein(a) phenotype and Type I diabet es mellitus.