F. Kronenberg et al., Genetic epidemiology of the apolipoprotein(a) polymorphism and its role inrenal diseases and Type-I diabetes mellitus, ACT MED AUS, 26(5), 1999, pp. 142-147
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.