Is lipoprotein(A) a risk factor for atherosclerosis of the retinal arteries?
Elevated plasma Lp(a) has been linked to development of coronary artery disease (CAD). There is no data about plasma Lp(a) and atherosclerosis of the retinal arteries. Therefore the purpose of this study was to assess the risk of retinal vessels atherosclerosis conferred by elevated plasma Lp(a) levels in 73 adult males. The results were compared with those in 45 matched apparently healthy males with no retinal vessel changes. The atherosclerotic changes of the retinal vessels were determined by direct ophthalmoscopy and graded (1-4) according to Scheie. Plasma levels of Lp(a) were measured by radial immunodiffusion. The results were compared using chi-square test. Although a very weak correlation between plasma Lp(a) levels and the incidence of retinal atherosclerosis was found, no significant association between the degree of atherosclerotic changes and plasma Lp(a) levels could be proven. Thus it could be concluded that plasma Lp(a) level is not a significant risk factor for atherosclerosis of the retinal arteries.
Tedeschi-Reiner
E
E
Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Sestre Milosrdnice, Zagreb, Croatia.
Reiner
Z
Z
Iveković
R
R
Novak-Laus
K
K
D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D017270:Lipoprotein(a) / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012161:Retinal Artery; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors
D017270:Lipoprotein(a)