Association between low-molecular weight apolipoprotein(a) isoforms and obesity in Italian women.
OBJECTIVE
Low-molecular weight (MW) apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)] isoforms are closely associated with an increased incidence of atherothrombotic disease, prevalence of which is higher in obese individuals, particularly in women. The hypothesis of this study was to assess whether there are differences in the distribution of apo(a) phenotypes between obese patients and healthy controls.


METHODS
One hundred three obese Italian women (BMI > or = 30.0 kg/m2) were enrolled in the study, and apo(a) phenotyping was performed in all subjects. The prevalence of low-MW apo(a) isoforms, detected in plasma samples of our obese women, was compared with that found in a control group of 84 normal-weight, never-obese (BMI < 25.0 kg/m(2)), age-matched women.


RESULTS
The distribution of apo(a) isoforms in the population of obese women was significantly different from that found in normal-weight female subjects. In particular, the percentage of subjects in the obese group with at least one apo(a) isoform of low MW was significantly higher than that in the control group (51.4% vs. 32.1%, p = 0.0079).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results seem to suggest the possibility that small-sized apo(a) isoforms may be used together with other traditional risk factors to better assess the overall predisposition to atherothrombotic disease in obese women.
Derosa
Giuseppe
G
Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Section of Internal Medicine, Vascular and Metabolic Diseases, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Policlinico San Matteo, University of Pavia, P.le C. Golgi, Italy. giuderosa@tin.it
Fogari
Roberto
R
Piccinni
Mario Nello
MN
Peros
Emmanouil
E
Bertone
Gianandrea
G
Ciccarelli
Leonardina
L
Tinelli
Carmine
C
Geroldi
Diego
D
Pannacciulli
Nicola
N
De Pergola
Giovanni
G
D000328:Adult; D001053:Apolipoproteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D053241:Apoprotein(a); D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017270:Lipoprotein(a) / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood*; D010641:Phenotype; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D012307:Risk Factors; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000453:epidemiology
D001053:Apolipoproteins; D017270:Lipoprotein(a); D020033:Protein Isoforms; D053241:Apoprotein(a)