Lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] is a class of lipoprotein particles having the lipid composition of plasma low density lipoprotein (LDL), but with a distinct protein moiety composed of two proteins linked together by a disulfide bridge. The two proteins
are apo
B-100 , the protein moiety of LDL, and apo(a), a heavily glycosylated protein that is specific for Lp(a). Apo (a) has a strong structural similarity to plasminogen and has a wide-size polymorphism that has a genetic origin and is partially
responsible
for the size and density heterogenecity of Lp(a).
High plasma levels of LpO(a) are associated with an incrased riak for cardiovascular disease that is related to atherogenic and thrombogenic potentials of this lipoprotein enhanced by the presence of other risk factors, among which are high
plasma
levels of LDL or low levels of high density lipoprotein. The factors determining of plasma levels of Lp (a) has not been clearly indentified. The study subjects were 86 boys and 80 girls aged 12 to 17 years. We measured serum concentration of Lp
(a),
apolipoprotein A-1 and B using the ELISA method. Median serum Lp(a) concentration was 12.0mg/dL, and median serum concentration of apolipoprotein A-1 and apolipoprotein B were 33.4mg/dL and 51.2mg/dL respectively. Girls had higher Lp(a) then boys
(p<0.05), but sex-related differences were not, seen in apolipoprotein A-1 or apoprotein B. Age-related changes were not apparent for Lp(a) or apolipoprotein A-1 or apolipoprotein B. Lipoprotein Lp (a) apparently exerted atherogenic effects when
it
carried above 30mg/dL. In this study, above 30mg/dL of Lp(a) were 12 (7.2%) subjects, who should be followed other cardiovascular risk factors and be treated.
Lp(a) should be advised to correct to modifiable risk factors in order to decrease the cardiovascular pathogenecity of the lipoprotein class.
|