RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Several epidemiological studies have shown that high plasma concentration of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is associated with an increased risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and works as an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis. But, the significance of Lp(a) in diabetic microangiopathy & neuropathy is unclear essentially due to a paucity of relevant studies. This study was designed to evaluate whether Lp(a) concentration may be increased in patients with diabetic microangiopathy & neuropathy. METHODS:We studied 96 patients who visited the department of internal medicine in Pusan National University Hospital from May 1995 to May 1996. The patients were grouped according to the presence of diabetic complications(microangiopathy and neuropathy, microangiopathy included retinopathy and nephropathy) and therapeutic modalities(diet, insulin, insulin with oral hypoglycemic agent, and oral hypoglycemic agent). RESULTS: 1) Concentration of Lp(a) was significantly higher(p or = 50 mg/dl was significantly correlated with diabetic retinopathy & nephropathy, but was not significantly correlated with diabetic neuropathy. Duration of diabetes(> or =7 years) and total cholesterol(> or =240 mg/dl) were significantly correlated with diabetic retinopathy, nephropathy and neuropathy. CONCLUSIONS: Lp(a) concentration is increased in patients with diabetic microangiopathy and neuropathy compared with patients without these complications. So, Lp(a) may works as risk factor for diabetic microangiopathy and neuropathy, and further study to evaluate the role of Lp(a) as a risk factor of such complications would be necessary in large number of patients.