Objective: To explore the correlation between plasma level of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] and coronary artery disease (CAD).
Method: A total of 1011 patients underwent coronary angiography in our department from October 2007 to March 2009 due to chest pain were included, 613 cases (60.6%) were diagnosed as CAD and the remaining 398 non-CAD patients (39.4%) served as control. Lp(a), apolipoproteinA1 (apoA1), apolipoproteinB (apoB) were detected by immunoturbidimetry method, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were measured by enzymatic approach. LDL-C/HDL-C ratio was calculated, multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed.
Results: (1) The values of Lp(a), TG, TC, LDL-C and apoB, and the ratio of LDL-C/HDL-C in CAD group were significantly higher in CAD group [(170.00 ± 160.00) mg/L, (1.84 ± 0.90) mmol/L, (4.86 ± 0.88) mmol/L, (3.31 ± 0.72) mmol/L, (0.97 ± 0.17) mmol/L and 3.39 ± 0.93] compared to those in control group [(120.00 ± 100.00) mg/L, (1.67 ± 0.72) mmol/L, (4.61 ± 0.95) mmol/L, (2.96 ± 0.80) mmol/L, (0.90 ± 0.18) mmol/L and 2.89 ± 0.92, all P < 0.05]. (2) Multivariate logistic regression analysis (forward method) indicated that Lp(a) (OR = 16.201, 95%CI 3.477 - 75.489, P = 0.0001) was the most powerful independent risk factor for diagnosing coronary artery disease.
Conclusions: Lp(a) is the most powerful independent risk factors for diagnosing coronary artery disease.