Abstract 11934: Lipoprotein(a) Serum Concentrations in Children Are Not Affected by Age, Sex, or Body Mass Index

Abstract

Background: Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) has emerged as an inherited marker of premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Current ESC guidelines recommend Lp(a) measurement once in the lifetime to identify individuals with high ASCVD risk. Limited data are available on Lp(a) serum concentrations in children. Methods: We analyzed 1189 blood samples of 605 healthy children aged 5 to 17 enrolled in the population-based LIFE CHILD (German civilization diseases cohort study). Lp(a) was quantitated using the Cobas/Roche assay. Results: The mean Lp(a) of the 605 children was 20.8 ± 1.0 mg/dl (SEM). 74 children (12.2%) showed Lp(a) concentrations between 30 and 50 mg/dl. 78 children (12.8%) exhibited Lp(a) > 50 mg/dl. The mean Lp(a) serum concentrations were distributed evenly between age 5 to 17 years without effects of age on Lp(a) concentrations. Repeated measurements were available in 207 children (2- 6 measurements at least 1 year apart). The measurements were highly reproducible over time (mean percentual difference between repeated measurements of Lp(a) concentration 38.5%, SEM 5%) with a clinically relevant dynamic of Lp(a) values in only 3% of cases. There was no significant correlation between sex and Lp(a) (r=0.09) or body mass index and Lp(a) (r=0.06) whereas higher LDL-cholesterol levels occurred more often in children with elevated Lp(a) (r=0.44, p<0.0001). 6 children with both Lp(a) >50 mg/dl and LDL-cholesterol >150 mg/dl were identified (1% of the 605 children). Conclusions: In conclusion, lipoprotein(a) serum concentrations in children between 5 and 17 years are not significantly affected by age, sex, or body weight. These data indicate that Lp(a) may be useful as a marker to identify children at increased lifetime risk for ASCD and suggest that Lp(a) could be used for reverse family screenings. Therefore, Lp(a) may be a valuable addition to screening examinations in children.