title: Lipoprotein (a) and atherogenic indices in Sudanese patients with type 2 diabetes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Type 2 diabetes is associated with significant cardiac morbidity and mortality with a more than threefold increased risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). We aimed to assess the serum concentrations of lipoprotein (a) and lipid profile indexes as predictors for CAD in Sudanese type 2 diabetics compared to healthy subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  This case-control study was conducted at Jabir Abu-Aliz Specialized Center, Khartoum State, Sudan. After overnight fasting, 4 ml blood samples were collected in plain vials through venous puncture from each subject. Lipid profile parameters were estimated by standard laboratory procedures. Serum lipoprotein (a) was measured by immunoturbidimetric method. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software (version 17).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to healthy controls, type 2 diabetics showed significantly higher serum lipids and lipoprotein fractions. The mean values of lipoprotein (a), TC: HDL-C (5.55±.8 vs. 3.89±.6) and LDL-C: HDL-C (3.80±0.7 vs. 2.32±0.5) were significantly increased in patients. Lipoprotein (a) was significantly correlated with TG (p=.025), HDL-C (inversely, p<.001), VLDL-C (p= .025), and TC: HDL-C ratio (p= 016). Moreover, LDL-C: HDL-C ratio and TC were the most common risk factors distributed among the study patients (80% and 71.4% respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diabetic patients characterized by higher ratios of TC: HDL -C and LDL: HDL and Lipoprotein (a) compared to healthy controls. The evaluation of these lipid indices in diabetics, beside the routine lipid profile analysis, may be a crucial helpful step in the prevention of coronary artery disease since these atherogenic factors can be reduced by lifestyle modifications.
authors.affiliation: Associate professor, Medical Laboratories Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Al-Qassim, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Abdelmarouf H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Mohieldein
authors.affiliation: Assistant professor, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Omdurman Islamic University, Sudan, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Khairia Eltahir
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Abdalla
authors.affiliation: Lecturer, Medical Laboratories Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Al-Qassim, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Marghoob
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hasan
keywords: LDL-C: HDL-C ratio; Sudan; TC: HDL-C ratio; coronary artery disease; lipoprotein (a); type 2 diabetes