CORRELATION OF LIPOPROTEIN(a) AND CORONARY ARTERY DISEASES

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<div><p><strong>INTRODUCTION:</strong> Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) continue to be one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. While factors such as diabetes, sedentariness, psychostress, genetic predisposition, hypertension, smoking, and hyperlipidemia are well-known in the etiology of atherosclerosis (Ath) of coronary arteries. Recent studies have also identified high concentrations of lipoproteins (a) [Lp(a)] as a risk factor. In fact, high concentrations of Lp(a) above 30mg/dl (reference value-30mg/dl) have been found to be a risk factor for Ath, leading experts to develop medications aimed at reducing Lp(a) concentrations and preventing atherosclerotic manifestations. <a href="https://eas-society.org/"><em>The European Atherosclerosis Society</em></a> has also released clinical guidelines for testing and treating high concentrations of Lp(a) as part of the global assessment of cardiovascular risk.</p><p><strong>THE GOAL OF THE STUDY:</strong> The goal of this study is to investigate the concentration of Lp(a) in patients with coronary disease and its connection to the presentation of atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries in patients with CVD compared to a control group of healthy individuals. Through this study, we hope to gain a better understanding of the role of Lp(a) in CVD and its potential as a target for prevention and treatment. By identifying and addressing risk factors like high Lp(a) concentrations, we can work towards reducing the global burden of CVD and improving health outcomes for individuals around the world.</p><p><strong>THE AIM OF THE STUDY:</strong> The aim of this study is to determine the concentration of lipoprotein(a) in patients with coronary disease, its connectivity and role in the presentation of atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries in patients with CVD compared to the control group of healthy individuals.</p><p><strong>MATERIAL AND METHODS:</strong> As working material, the blood taken from the vein of patients with coronary disease was used - N0=80, (with an identical average age of 55.70±6.00 years old, of which 35 were female while 45 were male. In the study, there was also a control group: N0=80 healthy volunteers (45 were male and 35 female) with the same age as the patients. Blood for analysis was taken at 8 o'clock in the morning, at room temperature of 19-24°C, every three months in a period of 12 months.</p><p>Echocardiography and EKG were also performed on all the patients with Toshiba SSH-140A machine, color Doppler probe 3.7Hz, sectorial type, taking into account as key parameters the thickness of the back wall of the left ventricle and the thickness of-Left ventricular internal diameter end diastole (LVPVd) and interventricular septal end diastole (IVSd>12 mm). Together with the examination of Lp(a) concentrations, the lipid profile was also analyzed. The analyzes were done at the Clinical Laboratory Institute at the University Clinical Center of the Faculty of Medicine – Skopje, North Macedonia.</p><p><strong>STATISTICAL PROCESSING OF THE MATERIAL:</strong> From the statistical methods, arithmetic mean value, standard deviation X±SD were used. The comparative statistics of the lipid parameters between the analyzed groups were analyzed with students ‘t’ dependent and independent samples according to the Mann-Whitney U-test and Wilcoxon - test. The results of the lipid fractions will be shown tabularly (see table 3) with the statistical program SPSS V26.</p><p><strong>RESULTS:</strong> The obtained values of lipids (Col.Total, TG, HDL-ch, LDL-ch) and lipoprotein (a) in both groups are presented with mean values and standard deviation X-SD. Due to the fact that in the obtained results of Lp(a) in both sexes, in patients with coronary disease, we did not notice any significant difference, we will present them as common for both groups, with CVD with maximum values of 78.00-16,00 mg/dl while in the control group =15.20-4.30 mg/dl, with a statistically significant difference with p<0.000. The same difference was found from the obtained results of lipid concentrations between the two groups with p <0.0001 (as presented in the tables below).</p><p><strong>CONCLUSION:</strong> The results obtained in the paper proved that high concentrations of Lp(a) > 30 mg/dl are risk factors for the occurrence of Ath of the coronary arteries and that these patients are at a 5-8 times higher risk for the development of Ath of coronary arteries, compared to individuals with normal Lp(a) values, therefore the treatment of high concentrations of Lp(a) should be started at the beginning of their appearance. In conclusion, we can suggest that the adequate treatment of high Lp(a) concentrations and the balancing of the lipid profile can apparently affect the prevention of atherosclerotic processes of the coronary arteries, therefore we prefer that in individuals with a history of CAD and those with coronary disease, the examination of Lp(a) and lipid profile should be one of the initial examinations during the management of patients with CAD.</p><p><strong>Keywords: </strong>Lipoprotein (a), atherosclerosis, Cardiovascular Arterial Diseases (CAD), lipid profile.</p></div>