Lipoprotein [A] in nephrotic syndrome

ABSTRACT

Lipoprotein [a] [Lp [a]] is an independent risk factor of early atherosclerosis with atherogenic and thrombogenic properties. Several studies have described a correlation between high plasma Lp [a] level and coronary heart disease, stroke and peripheral atherosclerosis. We measured plasma Lp [a] concentration in 21 patients with primary untreated nephrotic syndrome. Lp [a] levels were determined by immunopreciptin analysis. Data were compared with a healthy control group matched for age and sex. Histological lesions were MCGN in 1 pateint, MPGN in 4 patients, membranoproliferative GN in 8 cases, memberanous GN in 4 cases, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in 3 patients and crescntic GN in 1 patient. 57% of nephrotic patients had Lp [a] levels > 30 mg /dl compared to 20% in the control group. There was no significant difference in Lp [a] levels with respect to the underlying renal pathology, there was no significant correlation between Lp [a] and urinary protein excretion, renal functions, or with other lipid parameters including total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol. There was however a significant inverse correlation between Lp [a] and serum albumin [r = - 0. 464, p = 0.034]. Our findings suggest that decrease in serum albumin led to increased hepatic Lp [a] synthesis: