Extent and Severity of Coronary Artery Disease in Patients with High Serum LP(a) Levels

Serum LPa levels were investigated in 94 patients with documented coronary artery disease. These patients were then divided in 2 groups by their serum LPa levels. First group consisted of 24 patients with high (more than 75th percentile of this group) serum LPa levels. The clinical, laboratory and angiographic characteristics , extent and severity of coronary artery disease were investigated, and compared in these two groups of patients. Men-though not women - with high LPa levels were younger (2.7±8.2 versus 58.6±9.9 years, p<0.01). Serum cholesterol levels, presence of family history, diabetes, hypertension and history of smoking were comparable in the two groups. None of the indices of severity and extent of coronary heart disease differed between the two groups. Mean number of diseased vessels was 3.1±0.9 in group I and 2.9±1.0 group II. The mean number of lesions with = %50 narrowing were 4.2 ± 2.4 in gorup I and 3.9±2.6 in group II. The extent scores were 0.47±0.2 versus 0.46±0.3. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed age as the only significant factor between the two groups. This prospective study suggests a lack of correlation between high serum LPa levels and the severity and extent of coronary artery disease.