Serum Lipoprotein(a) in Diabetic Retinopathy Patients

ABSTRACT

Lipoprotein(a), a complex formed by apolipoprotein(a), apo B-100 and lipids, is considered an independent, genetically determined, predictor of cardiovascular disease. It may have antifibrinolytic properties in view of its similarity to plasmmogen. To evaluate whether lipoprotein(a) may be a risk factors in patients with diabetic retinopathy or not, we measured the circulating serum level of lipoprotein(a) in each group classified by the severity of diabetic retinopathy and control group. The serum lipoprotein(a) level was higher in the diabetic patients than in the control group, and diabetic retinopathy, which was expressed by the grade of retinopathy in the worse eye, was correlated significantly with the duration of disease, and the serum level of lipoprotein(a) independently(P<0.05). There was no correlation between the diabetic retinopathy and the age at the time of diagnosis, systolic or diastolic blood pressure, or the serum levels of HbA(IC), cholesterol, triglyceride, and total lipid. We concluded that the lipoprotein(a) may play a role as one of the independent risk factors in diabetic retinopathy.