Plasma lipoprotein(a) levels in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.
BACKGROUND
Pulmonary artery hypertension is a common sequelae of a variety of cardiac and lung diseases. Pathogenesis of primary and secondary pulmonary artery hypertension is still debatable.


RESULTS
We studied the serum lipoprotein(a) levels in patients with primary (n=27) and secondary (n=19) pulmonary artery hypertension (Eisenmenger syndrome). The results were compared with age and sex matched controls (n=46). We also studied the frequency of high levels of lipoprotein(a) (> 30 mg/dl) in pulmonary artery hypertension. Mean lipoprotein(a) levels were significantly higher in the pulmonary artery hypertension group compared to age- and sex-matched controls (31.60+/-15.49 mg/dl v. 14.66+/-14.7; p=0.0001). All patients were classified into two groups on the basis of their lipoprotein(a) levels (<30 mg/dl and >30 mg/dl). There was a higher frequency of lipoprotein(a) >30 mg/dl in patients of pulmonary artery hypertension v. controls (52% v. 24%; p= <0.001). Younger age, higher functional class, more severe congestive heart failure, shorter duration of symptoms. and more cases of hemoptysis were observed in the group with lipoprotein(a) >30 mg/dl.


CONCLUSIONS
High lipoprotein(a) may be a marker and be associated with a more adverse prognosis in severe pulmonary artery hypertension. Larger prospective studies are needed to establish lipoprotein(a) as a risk factor for the development of pulmonary artery hypertension.
Tewari
S
S
Department of Cardiology & Endocrinology, Sanjay Gandhi PGIMS, Lucknow.
Gupta
D
D
Kumar
S
S
Garg
N
N
Godbole
M M
MM
Sinha
N
N
D000328:Adult; D004541:Eisenmenger Complex / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017270:Lipoprotein(a) / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D014463:Ultrasonography
D017270:Lipoprotein(a)