Apolipoprotein(a) genetic sequence variants associated with systemic atherosclerosis and coronary atherosclerotic burden but not with venous thromboembolism

J Am Coll Cardiol. 2012 Aug 21;60(8):722-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2012.01.078.

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study is investigate the effects of variants in the apolipoprotein(a) gene (LPA) on vascular diseases with different atherosclerotic and thrombotic components.

Background: It is unclear whether the LPA variants rs10455872 and rs3798220, which correlate with lipoprotein(a) levels and coronary artery disease (CAD), confer susceptibility predominantly via atherosclerosis or thrombosis.

Methods: The 2 LPA variants were combined and examined as LPA scores for the association with ischemic stroke (and TOAST [Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment] subtypes) (effective sample size [n(e)] = 9,396); peripheral arterial disease (n(e) = 5,215); abdominal aortic aneurysm (n(e) = 4,572); venous thromboembolism (n(e) = 4,607); intracranial aneurysm (n(e) = 1,328); CAD (n(e) = 12,716), carotid intima-media thickness (n = 3,714), and angiographic CAD severity (n = 5,588).

Results: LPA score was associated with ischemic stroke subtype large artery atherosclerosis (odds ratio [OR]: 1.27; p = 6.7 × 10(-4)), peripheral artery disease (OR: 1.47; p = 2.9 × 10(-14)), and abdominal aortic aneurysm (OR: 1.23; p = 6.0 × 10(-5)), but not with the ischemic stroke subtypes cardioembolism (OR: 1.03; p = 0.69) or small vessel disease (OR: 1.06; p = 0.52). Although the LPA variants were not associated with carotid intima-media thickness, they were associated with the number of obstructed coronary vessels (p = 4.8 × 10(-12)). Furthermore, CAD cases carrying LPA risk variants had increased susceptibility to atherosclerotic manifestations outside of the coronary tree (OR: 1.26; p = 0.0010) and had earlier onset of CAD (-1.58 years/allele; p = 8.2 × 10(-8)) than CAD cases not carrying the risk variants. There was no association of LPA score with venous thromboembolism (OR: 0.97; p = 0.63) or intracranial aneurysm (OR: 0.85; p = 0.15).

Conclusions: LPA sequence variants were associated with atherosclerotic burden, but not with primarily thrombotic phenotypes.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Age of Onset
  • Angiography
  • Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / genetics
  • Apolipoproteins A / genetics*
  • Atherosclerosis / genetics*
  • Black or African American / genetics
  • Brain Ischemia / genetics
  • Carotid Intima-Media Thickness
  • Coronary Artery Disease / genetics
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Humans
  • Intracranial Aneurysm / genetics
  • Linear Models
  • Logistic Models
  • Myocardial Infarction / genetics
  • Odds Ratio
  • Peripheral Arterial Disease / genetics
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide*
  • Risk Factors
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Stroke / genetics
  • Venous Thromboembolism / genetics
  • White People / genetics

Substances

  • Apolipoproteins A