title: Plasma lipoprotein(a) levels in patients with slow coronary flow.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Slow coronary flow (SCF) is a microvascular disorder characterized by delayed opacification of coronary vessels with normal coronary angiogram. It may be due to endothelial dysfunction and diffuse atherosclerosis. Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is related to cardiovascular events. Plasma Lp(a) levels have not been studied previously in SCF patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We investigated plasma Lp(a) and fibrinogen levels, and their relation to coronary flow rate in patients with SCF.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study included 50 patients with SCF and 30 age- and sex-matched controls who had normal coronary arteries and normal flow. Coronary flow rates of patients and controls were counted with the thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) frame count. Plasma Lp(a) and fibrinogen levels were measured in SCF patients and controls, with routine biochemical tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to plasma Lp(a) (21 mg/dl vs. 14 mg/dl, p = 0.11) and fibrinogen (278 mg/dl vs. 291 mg/dl, p = 0.48) levels. The TIMI frame count was not correlated with plasma Lp(a) (r = 0.13, p = 0.25) or fibrinogen (r = -0.14, p = 0.28) levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results show that there is no significant association between SCF and Lp(a) and fibrinogen levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, State Hospital, Isparta, Turkey.
authors.forename: Habil
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yucel
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Suleyman Demirel University, Medical School, Isparta, Turkey.
authors.forename: Abdullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dogan
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Suleyman Demirel University, Medical School, Isparta, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Altinbas
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Celal Bayar University, Medical School, Manisa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Salaheddin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akcay
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Ahi Evran University Training and Research Hospital, KIrsehir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Atilla
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Icli
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Suleyman Demirel University, Medical School, Isparta, Turkey.
authors.forename: Betul Mermi
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Ceyhan
keywords: cardiovascular disease; fibrinogen; lipoprotein(a); slow coronary flow