title: Lipoprotein(a), apolipoprotein(a) polymorphism and coronary atherosclerosis severity in type 2 diabetic patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few and conflicting data are available in the literature on the association between Lp(a) levels and the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) in diabetic patients. In addition, no studies took into account the role of apo(a) polymorphism. The purpose of the present study was to analyse the association of the degree of coronary atherosclerosis with Lp(a) levels and apo(a) polymorphism in a large group of type 2 diabetic patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population consisted of 227 consecutive type 2 diabetic patients undergoing a routine coronary angiography to evaluate chest pain or suspected CAD. The patients were subdivided into four subgroups according to the number of coronary arteries diseased: normal arteries (n=26), mono-vessel disease (n=67), bi-vessel disease (n=54) and multi-vessel disease (n=80).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lp(a) levels (normal arteries: 14.6+/-19.6 mg/dl; mono-vessel disease: 19.0+/-16.4 mg/dl; bi-vessel disease: 19.3+/-15.1 mg/dl; multi-vessel disease: 26.5+/-16.8 mg/dl; p<0.001) and the percentages of patients with at least one isoform of low molecular weight (normal arteries: 23.1%; mono-vessel disease: 38.8%; bi-vessel disease: 75.9%; multi-vessel disease: 81.2%; p<0.001) were significantly correlated with increasing number of coronary vessels diseased. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that both Lp(a) levels (OR: 1.31; 95% CI: 1.02-4.11) and apo(a) polymorphism (OR: 3.43; 95% CI: 1.67-7.05) were independent predictors of CAD severity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that Lp(a) levels and apo(a) polymorphism may be reliable predictors of CAD severity in type 2 diabetic patients.
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Maugeri Foundation Hospital Scientific Institue of Pavia, Italy. c.azzaruso@tele2.it
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gazzaruso
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bruno
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pujia
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Amici
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fratino
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Solerte
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garzaniti
mesh_terms: D001053:Apolipoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D053241:Apoprotein(a); D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood*; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017270:Lipoprotein(a) / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests
chemical_list: D001053:Apolipoproteins; D017270:Lipoprotein(a); D053241:Apoprotein(a)