title: Serum levels of Lp(a) are related to waist circumference in NAFLD patients with low prevalence of co-morbidities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Novel evidence suggests a relationship between circulating Lp(a) levels and the presence of cardiovascular events independently from the cardio-metabolic profile.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The purpose of this study was to investigate serum Lp(a) concentrations in relation to carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), anthropometric measures, lipid profile, assessment of insulin resistance, and other parameters conventionally used to predict CVD risk, in obese patients suffering from hepatic steatosis (HS), the well-known nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Evidencing the key-points of this research, firstly, serum Lp(a) concentrations were not associated with carotid IMT in this selected population or, consequently, with early atherosclerosis, at least as evaluated by IMT. Secondly, carotid IMT was not predicted by HS severity, as evaluated by ultrasound. Finally, in the adjusted model, Lp(a) was positively predicted by waist circumference (WC) (β = 0.25, t = 2.3, p = 0.02) and negatively by central adiposity, assessed as visceral adipose tissue at US (β = -0.33, t = -3.0, p = 0.003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum Lp(a) values may not play a direct role in increasing IMT, albeit associated with WC.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery , Federico II University Medical School of Naples , Italy.|b Centro Ricerche Oncologiche Di Mercogliano , Istituto Nazionale per Lo Studio E La Cura Dei Tumori "Fondazione Giovanni Pascale", IRCCS , Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tarantino
authors.affiliation: c Center of Obesity and Eating Disorders , Stella Maris Mediterraneum Foundation , C/Da S. Lucia , Chiaromonte , Potenza , Italy.
authors.forename: Carmine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Finelli
authors.affiliation: c Center of Obesity and Eating Disorders , Stella Maris Mediterraneum Foundation , C/Da S. Lucia , Chiaromonte , Potenza , Italy.
authors.forename: Saverio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gioa
authors.affiliation: d Department of Internal Medicine , Umberto I Hospital , Nocera Inferiore , Salerno , Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Citro
authors.affiliation: c Center of Obesity and Eating Disorders , Stella Maris Mediterraneum Foundation , C/Da S. Lucia , Chiaromonte , Potenza , Italy.
authors.forename: Nicolina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: La Sala
authors.affiliation: a Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery , Federico II University Medical School of Naples , Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gentile
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D018110:Receptors, Lipoprotein / Q000097:blood*; D055105:Waist Circumference
chemical_list: D018110:Receptors, Lipoprotein; C098070:lipoprotein A receptor
keywords: Carotid intima-media; Lp(a); NAFLD; obesity; waist circumference