Lipoprotein[a] and the lipid profile in patients with systemic sclerosis.
BACKGROUND
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disorder of the connective tissue characterized by widespread vascular lesions and fibrosis, associated with endothelial dysfunction, that might finally promote occlusive vascular complications. Little is known so far on the lipid profile of these patients.


METHODS
To investigate the potential contribution of lipid abnormalities in genesis and progression of vascular occlusive complications, an extensive lipid profile, including total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, total cholesterol to HDL-C ratio, the atherogenic index of plasma, lipoprotein[a] (Lp[a]) and high-sensitive C Reactive Protein (Hs-CRP), was assessed in 31 consecutive female SSc patients and 33 matched healthy controls.


RESULTS
When compared to healthy matched controls, SSc patients displayed statistically significant differences in median and 25-75th percentile distribution of Lp[a] (110 mg/l, 51-389 mg/l vs. 79 mg/l, 29-149 mg/l; P =0.005) and in the mean concentration of Hs-CRP (4.49 +/- 5.06 mg/l vs. 1.36 +/- 1.19 mg/l; P =0.001), but not in the other lipid parameters. When compared to the current NCEP or AHA/ACC goals, the values distributions and the relative percentage of patients with undesirable or abnormal vales were statistically different for Lp[a] (29% versus 3%) and Hs-CRP (42% vs. 12%) (both P <0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
If further studies will strengthen these preliminary findings, owing to the growing evidence that Lp[a] might act in synergy with other defined prothrombotic conditions in the pathogenesis of a variety of vascular disorders, we hypothesize that Lp[a] measurement might be useful in SSc to identify and eventually treat subsets of patients more predisposed to develop thrombotic complications.
Lippi
Giuseppe
G
Istituto di Chimica e Microscopia Clinica, Dipartimento di Scienze Morfologico-Biomediche, Università degli Studi di Verona, Ospedale Policlinico G.B. Rossi, Piazzale Scuro, 10, 37134 - Verona, Italy. ulippi@tin.it
Caramaschi
Paola
P
Montagnana
Martina
M
Salvagno
Gian Luca
GL
Volpe
Alessandro
A
Guidi
Giancesare
G
D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D017270:Lipoprotein(a) / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000097:blood*; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D008055:Lipids; D017270:Lipoprotein(a); D012709:Serum Albumin; D014280:Triglycerides; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002784:Cholesterol; D003404:Creatinine