Carotid atherosclerosis and serum lipoprotein(a) concentrations in patients with NIDDM.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the association of carotid atherosclerosis and serum lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] concentrations in subjects with NIDDM.


METHODS
We measured carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and Lp(a) concentrations in 117 NIDDM subjects. Subjects were divided into tertiles according to IMT values and number of plaques.


RESULTS
Serum Lp(a), but not lipid and apoprotein levels, increased significantly with increasing IMT (20.0 +/- 2.3, 24.7 +/- 3.3, and 39.8 +/- 4.3 mg/dl [mean +/- SE], respectively, P < 0.001). Serum Lp(a) increased with increasing number of plaques (18.4 +/- 2.5 mg/dl in 59 subjects with no plaques, 25.8 +/- 2.5 mg/dl in 24 subjects with 1 plaque, and 38.7 +/- 5.1 mg/dl in 34 subjects with more than 1 plaque; P < 0.05). Furthermore, the mean IMT and Lp(a) levels in the subjects with cerebrovascular disease (CD) were significantly higher than in those without CD (1.25 +/- 0.04 mm and 41.2 +/- 4.7 mg/dl vs. 1.08 +/- 0.03 mm and 22.2 +/- 1.9 mg/dl; P < 0.005). The mean IMT and Lp(a) levels were higher in subjects with ischemic heart disease (IHD) than in those without IHD, although statistical significance was not observed (1.21 +/- 0.06 mm and 31.7 +/- 4.7 mg/dl vs. 1.10 +/- 0.03 mm and 27.0 +/- 2.4 mg/dl, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Elevated serum Lp(a) concentrations are associated with carotid atherosclerosis in NIDDM subjects.
Yamamoto
M
M
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Hiroshima University School of Medicine, Japan. maki@mcai.med.hiroshima-u.ac.jp
Egusa
G
G
Yamakido
M
M
D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000097:blood; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017270:Lipoprotein(a) / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography
D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D017270:Lipoprotein(a)