Lipoprotein (a) in coronary artery disease in Indian population.

Prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in Indian population is gradually increasing at an alarming rate. Traditional risk factors fail to explain the high incidence of CAD. Although lipoprotein(a) has been shown to be a risk factor for atherosclerosis, there is very limited data regarding Indian patients. The present study was therefore undertaken to assess the role of lipoprotein(a) levels as a risk factor in CAD in Indian patients. Clinical profile, lipid profile, coronary angiography and lipoprotein(a) levels were assessed in 300 patients with CAD and 200 controls with no CAD. There was no significant difference in age, conventional risk factors like diabetes, hypertension, smoking, family history and lipid parameters between the two groups. The mean plasma lipoprotein(a) levels in patients with CAD was 32.18 +/- 1.37 mg/dl. The value was not significantly higher than that of the mean of 29.94 +/- 2.59 mg/dl of lipoprotein(a) in the control group. In the subgroup of diabetics and patients with myocardial infarction there was a trend towards increased lipoprotein(a) levels compared to controls but the difference was not statistically significant. Nor there was any relationship between lipoprotein(a) levels and number of stenosed coronary arteries. Thus the study shows that lipoprotein(a) levels do not significantly correlate with the presence of coronary artery disease.