ABSTRACT
Lipoprotein [a] [Lp [a]] is an established risk marker of coronary artery disease which is independent from other risk factors. The aim was to address the association between Lp [a] and CAD risk in North Indians. To evaluate whether high levels of lipoprotein [a] [Lp [a]] is a predictor of risk and is related to the severity of CAD. This was a cross-sectional study done on 360 patients presenting with chest pain. Coronary angiography revealed CAD in 270 patients and 90 patients without CAD. Lipoprotein [a] level, lipid profile, fasting blood glucose, anthropometric and clinical parameters were analyzed. Lipoprotein [a] 21.0 mg/dL is associated with the presence of coronary lesions [P = 0.0001]. A highly significant difference in Lp [a] levels was observed between normal coronaries vs. single-vessel disease, double-and triple-vessel disease [P < 0.0001]. Body mass index [BMI] was significantly raised in CAD group compared to normal coronary. Multivariate analysis found that Lp [a] was considered an independent predictor for severity of CAD and Lp [a] levels 21.0 mg/dL are associated with severe patterns of coronary atherosclerosis