title: [Lipoprotein(a): genetic marker of precocious myocardial infarction].
abstract: Since an elevated serum concentration of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] associated with a positive family history of premature myocardial infarction (PMI), would support the hypothesis that Lp(a) is a genetic risk factor for atherosclerosis, we measured serum levels in subjects from families with a history of PMI and compared them to those in a group of healthy control subjects. Twenty-five males (average age 39 +/- 16 years) and 9 females (average age 42 +/- 14 years) who had at least one blood relative affected by PMI were included in the study; 20 males (average age 41 +/- 11 years) and 10 females (average age 37 +/- 13 years) served as control subjects. Serum cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, apo A1, apo B100 and Lp(a) concentrations were measured in both groups. The statistically significant higher prevalence of elevated Lp(a) levels (> 30 mg/dL) in the PMI group (p < 0.05) is attributable to the higher prevalence of PMI males with elevated Lp(a) levels. Pedigree studies disclosed a family distribution of coronary heart disease compatible with the hypothesis of a segregation of a dominant character for PMI risk. Because serum Lp(a) concentration is inherited with a Mendelian codominant pattern, we conclude that our data strongly support the hypothesis of a correlation between excess Lp(a) and coronary atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Fisiopatologia Clinica, Università degli Studi di Firenze.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guazzelli
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fatini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Piazzini
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lazzeri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D017270:Lipoprotein(a) / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D010375:Pedigree
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers; D017270:Lipoprotein(a)
vernacular_title: Lipoproteina(a): marker genetico di infarto miocardico precoce.