Serum lipoprotein [LP[a]] levels in patients with diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose tolerance: an evaluation and comparison

ABSTRACT

Lipoprotein [a] [Lp[a]] is known as an independent risk factor of atherosclerosis and changes in serum level of this molecule and other lipoproteins have been noticed in diabetic patients because the most important cause of death in these patients is related to their cardiovascular disorders. Moreover, patients with IGT [Impaired Glucose Tolerance] are more at risk of cardiovascular disease than the normal population. The main purpose of this study is to comparie Lp[a] serum levels between diabetic patients, patients with IGT and normal controls without any glucose metabolism disturbance. In this study, 180 patients [112 females, average age of 51 +/- 11 years and 68 males, average age of 54 +/- 14 years] were selected and placed in three separate age and sex matched groups [60 patients in each group] as Diabetic, IGT and Control group. After taking clinical history and determining body measurements, serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-C, LDL-C and Lp[a] were measured in fasting blood samples. Lp[a] serum levels were not significantly different between the three groups. [DM25.4 +/- 20.9, IGT 24 +/- 21.4, Control 24.6 +/- 17.9 mg/dL]. An increase in serum triglyceride was found in the diabetic patients compared with the controls. [DM 210.6 +/- 91.5, control 159 +/- 71.9 mg/dL p = 0.04]. HDL-C levels showed no significant difference between groups. In addition, HDL-C levels of the all three groups were lower than the recommended range of Coronary Artery Disease prevention. [average range of the three groups 37.4 +/- 8.7 mg/dL] Total Cholesterol and LDL-C serum levels were higher in diabetic patients compared with the controls. [DM 222.3 +/- 35.4 vs Control group 191.7 +/- 46.5 mg/dL p < 0.007 and DM 141.2 +/- 32.4 vs Control 119.0 +/- 36.6 mg/dL p < 0.03]. In the IGT group, serum lipids levels were between the levels of the diabetic and control groups none of these differences were significant. This study shows that Lp[a] serum levels do not change in Diabetes Mellitus and IGT