High serum lipoprotein(a) levels in Korean type 2 diabetic patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the possible association between serum lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] concentration and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) in Korean patients with type 2 diabetes.


METHODS
A total of 412 Korean outpatients with type 2 diabetes were examined. Diabetic retinopathy was determined by an ophthalmologist using fundoscopic examination. Serum Lp(a) levels were measured by two-site sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.


RESULTS
The patients with PDR had higher serum Lp(a) levels than those with no diabetic retinopathy or with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that high serum Lp(a) levels and the presence of diabetic nephropathy were independent variables having a statistically significant association with PDR.


CONCLUSIONS
Korean type 2 diabetic patients with PDR had higher serum Lp(a) levels versus those with no diabetic retinopathy or with NPDR. Although these results suggest that Lp(a) might play a role in the occlusion of retinal capillaries leading to PDR, further prospective studies are required to prove the causal relationship.
Kim
C H
CH
Department of Internal Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Park
H J
HJ
Park
J Y
JY
Hong
S K
SK
Yoon
Y H
YH
Lee
K U
KU
D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002096:C-Peptide / Q000097:blood; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D017270:Lipoprotein(a) / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D001786:Blood Glucose; D002096:C-Peptide; D002784:Cholesterol; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D017270:Lipoprotein(a); D014280:Triglycerides