title: Decrease in lipoprotein(a) after renal transplantation is related to the glucocorticoid dose.
abstract: Serum lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] concentrations and apolipoprotein(a) phenotypes were determined in 46 patients with end-stage renal disease both before as well as 1 week and 1, 3 and 6 months after renal transplantation. Immunosuppressive therapy consisted of cyclosporin A, prednisone and azathioprine. Before transplantation median Lp(a) levels did not differ between the patients and a healthy control group. A highly significant decrease (P < 0.001) in Lp(a) levels was observed in both male and female patients 1 week after transplantation. This marked reduction in Lp(a) occurred at a time when patients were receiving the highest doses of corticosteroids. As steroid doses were gradually tapered, Lp(a) concentrations subsequently increased, although at 6 months levels were still significantly reduced (P < 0.01) in women. No significant correlation was observed between Lp(a) and whole-blood cyclosporin levels, nor was there any correlation with the azathioprine dose. The reduction in Lp(a) concentrations was seen for all apo(a) phenotypes observed in the study.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung Klinische Chemie, Georg-August-Universität, Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: von Ahsen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Helmhold
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Eisenhauer
authors.forename: V W
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oellerich
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001053:Apolipoproteins / Q000097:blood / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology; D017270:Lipoprotein(a) / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D011241:Prednisone / Q000494:pharmacology; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000378:metabolism; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012737:Sex Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001053:Apolipoproteins; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D017270:Lipoprotein(a); D014280:Triglycerides; D016572:Cyclosporine; D002784:Cholesterol; D003404:Creatinine; D011241:Prednisone