Lipoprotein (a) does not participate in the early acute phase response to training or extreme physical activity and is unlikely to enhance any associated immediate cardiovascular risk.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the proposal that lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) contributes to the acute phase response and thus possibly to the acute cardiac risks associated with major physical effort.


RESULTS
Fit, healthy, British army recruits were reviewed at the beginning and the end of a 10 week programme of basic training concluding with an intense 48 hour military exercise. Final recruit assessment was staggered over the last week of training, giving rise to six recruit groups, with determination of Lp(a), C reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, albumin, and total creatine kinase values from 12 hours to five days after the final exercise. A clear acute phase response was seen following the final exercise, marked by a significant increase in circulating concentrations of fibrinogen and a reduction of albumin, and a trend with non-significant increases in CRP.


CONCLUSIONS
Lp(a) did not behave as an early marker of the acute response. Previous reports may have been confounded by concurrent disease in older subjects and by late sampling. Lp(a) determination for cardiovascular risk profiling is not confounded by associated physical effort. It is also unlikely that the acute risks of major physical effort are enhanced by any process involving Lp(a).
Byrne
D J
DJ
Department of Molecular Pathology and Clinical Biochemistry, Royal Free and University College Medical School, University College London, Royal Free Campus, Rowland Hill Street, London NW3 2PF, UK. d.byrne@rfc.ucl.ac.uk
Jagroop
I A
IA
Montgomery
H E
HE
Thomas
M
M
Mikhailidis
D P
DP
Milton
N G
NG
Winder
A F
AF
D000210:Acute-Phase Reaction / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D017270:Lipoprotein(a) / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism
D015415:Biomarkers; D017270:Lipoprotein(a); D012709:Serum Albumin; D005340:Fibrinogen; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D003402:Creatine Kinase