title: Serum lipoprotein(a) levels in patients with atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease in Hospital Kuala Lumpur.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to determine the proportion of patients with atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease (PVD) who had elevated lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] levels, as well as to determine the latter's significance as a risk factor for PVD in the local population.
  
  
  METHODS
  This case-controlled study was conducted between June and October 2004 in the Department of Surgery, Kuala Lumpur Hospital. A total of 100 patients were recruited and divided into control and PVD groups. Patients were defined as having PVD if they were symptomatic, with ankle-brachial systolic index < 0.90, or by radiological evidence. Lp(a) concentrations were determined using immunoturbidometry. Absorbance of reaction precipitate was measured by spectrophotometry to give Lp(a) concentration in grams per litre (g/L). The reference value for normal Lp(a) levels was < or = 0.36 g/L.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean Lp(a) levels for control and PVD groups were 0.29 g/L and 0.56 g/L, and median values were 0.17 g/L and 0.48 g/L, respectively. Elevated Lp(a) levels in the control group was 26% compared to 58% in the PVD group. Analysis with Pearson's chi-squared test achieved a significant p value of 0.001. Multivariate analysis showed that elevated Lp(a) levels contributed significantly to the probability of having PVD with an odds ratio of 7.69.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elevated serum Lp(a) has a significant role as a risk factor for atherosclerotic PVD in the local population.
authors.affiliation: Vascular Unit, Department of General Surgery, Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. hakim_hkl@yahoo.com.my
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Hakim
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Hafizan
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Baizurah
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Zainal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017270:Lipoprotein(a) / Q000097:blood*; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D017270:Lipoprotein(a)