Plasma triglycerides and lipoprotein(a): inverse relationship in a hyperlipidemic Italian population.
The relationship between plasma lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) levels and other clinical/biochemical variables was investigated in 1200 consecutive hyperlipidemic patients. Plasma Lp(a) concentrations were measured by a sandwich-ELISA method, while the patients were either on diet or diet plus lipid-lowering drugs; 38% of them had a plasma Lp(a) level > 30 mg/dl. The median plasma Lp(a) concentration and the frequency of Lp(a) > 30 mg/dl were significantly lower in individuals with severe hypertriglyceridemia vs. hypercholesterolemics (HC) or mixed hyperlipidemics (M-HLP), but similar to normolipidemic healthy controls. Patients with isolated moderate hypertriglyceridemia had Lp(a) levels intermediate between HC and M-HLP subjects. The in vitro addition of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins to normotriglyceridemic plasma did not affect the Lp(a) measurement. Plasma Lp(a) concentrations in the whole hyperlipidemic population correlated negatively with triglycerides and positively with total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and age, being unrelated to either body mass index or lipid-lowering treatment. In HC patients, the presence of tendon xanthomas was associated with twofold higher Lp(a) levels. These findings argue for a regulatory role of triglycerides on plasma Lp(a) levels in hyperlipidemic patients.
Center E. Grossi Paoletti, University of Milan, Italy.
J P
JP
Werba
O
O
Safa
G
G
Gianfranceschi
S
S
Michelagnoli
C R
CR
Sirtori
G
G
Franceschini
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy; D006954:Hyperlipoproteinemia Type V / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy; D007558:Italy; D017270:Lipoprotein(a) / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D017270:Lipoprotein(a); D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol