ABSTRACT
Lipoprotein [a] or Lp[a] is a cholesterol-rich particle with atherothrombogenic properties. Plasma level of Lp[a] varies in different populations, however, little data on normal range of Lp[a] lipoprotein among Iranian population is available The aim of this study was to estimate the normal range of Lp[a] and also its relationship with other lipoproteins in a group of Iranian students. This was a cross-sectional descriptive analytical study carried out on 150 college students [88 females and 62 males] aged 19-30 [21.8 +/- 2.3] who were clinically healthy and coming from various regions of Iran. The fasting serum levels of Lp[a], lipids, lipoproteins, apolipoproteins, total cholesterol [TC], triglycerides [TG], high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol [HDL-C], were determined by standard kits. Lp[a] and apo-B100 measurement was performed using electro-immunoassay, and apo-A1 by an immunoturbidimetric method. The data were further analyzed using SPSS, U- and t-tests to compare the variables and also the Pearson correlation test in determination of correlation between Lp[a] and other variables. A p-value of ? 0.05 was considered to be significant. Lp[a] with a mean of 19.46 +/- 19.44 mg/dl, did not showed any significant differences between males [16.33 +/- 18.79 mg/dl] and females [21.41 +/- 19.80 mg/dl]. In addition, no statistically significant correlation was demonstrated between the serum Lp[a] levels and oher variables such as age, lipids, and lipoproteins. A serum Lp[a] level higher than 30 mg/dl was shown in 14% of males, 36.5% of females and 21.5% of the total subjects. The mean serum concentration of Lp[a] in the present study was relatively higher than the values found by most researchers. This might be an acceptable explanation to high incidence of cardiovascular disease in some Iranian populations