Lipoprotein (a) and anticardiolipin antibodies are risk factors for clinically relevant restenosis after elective balloon percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty

Recent reports have shown the importance of new risk factors for cardiovasc ular disease. We investigated the relationship between Lp(a), fibrinolytic parameters and anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) and the occurrence of clini cal recurrence owing to restenosis after elective balloon percutaneous tran sluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) without stenting. In 167 patients, und ergoing PTCA, Lp(a) plasma levels, aCL, euglobulin lysis time (ELT), plasmi nogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) activity and tissue-type plasminogen ac tivator (t-PA) plasma levels were evaluated before the procedure. During fo llow-up 29 patients underwent clinical recurrence due to restenosis. Lp(a) levels were significantly higher in patients with restenosis in comparison to those without (P < 0.05); an earlier restenosis was observed in patients with Lp(a) values > 450 mg/L. Kaplan-Meier survival estimate showed an ear lier occurrence of restenosis in patients with base-line Lp(a) > 300 mg/l a ssociated with aCL positivity. High Lp(a) plasma levels play a role in the occurrence of clinical recurrence due to restenosis after elective balloon PTCA without stenting; the association with aCL accelerates the development of restenosis. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.