This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Nishino, M. Articles by Redberg, R. F. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Nishino, M. Articles by Redberg, R. F.

CLINICAL STUDIES

Lack of association of lipoprotein(a) levels with coronary calcium deposits in asymptomatic postmenopausal women

Masami Nishino, MD^{* ,1}, Mary J. Malloy, MD, Josefina Naya-Vigne, MD, Julie Russell, RN^* , John P. Kane, MD, PhD and Rita F. Redberg, MD, MSc, FACC^*

^* Division of Cardiology, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA

Manuscript received April 16, 1999; revised manuscript received September 14, 1999, accepted October 21, 1999.

OBJECTIVES

This study sought to determine the relationship of lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) and other cardiac risk factors to coronary atherosclerosis as measured by calcification of coronary arteries in asymptomatic postmenopausal women.

BACKGROUND

Lipoprotein(a) is considered a risk factor for coronary heart disease. Coronary calcium deposition is believed to be a useful noninvasive marker of coronary atherosclerosis in women. However, to our knowledge, there are no reports of the relationship of Lp(a) to coronary calcium in postmenopausal women.

METHODS

In 178 asymptomatic postmenopausal women (64 ± 8 years), we measured Lp(a) and other cardiac risk factors: age, hypertension, diabetes, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, smoking status, body mass index, physical activity level and duration of hormone replacement therapy. Electron-beam computed tomography was done to measure coronary calcium (calcium score). We analyzed the relationship between calcium score and cardiac risk factors using multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

Although calcium score correlated with traditional risk factors of age, diabetes, hypertension and smoking, it did not correlate with Lp(a) in the asymptomatic postmenopausal women. Similar multivariate analyses were done in the subjects age >60 years and in the subjects with significant coronary calcium deposit (calcium score 50). These analyses also have failed to show an association of levels of Lp(a) with coronary calcium deposits.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that in asymptomatic postmenopausal women, Lp(a) levels do not correlate with coronary atherosclerosis as measured by coronary calcium deposits.

Abbreviations and Acronyms   CHD = coronary heart disease   EBCT = electron beam computed tomography   HDL = high-density lipoprotein   HU = Hounsfield Units   LDL = low-density lipoprotein   Lp(a) = lipoprotein(a)   Mets = metabolic equivalents   UCSF = University of California, San Francisco

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. M. Luke, J. P. Kane, D. M. Liu, C. M. Rowland, D. Shiffman, J. Cassano, J. J. Catanese, C. R. Pullinger, D. U. Leong, A. R. Arellano, et al. A Polymorphism in the Protease-Like Domain of Apolipoprotein(a) Is Associated With Severe Coronary Artery Disease Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, September 1, 2007; 27(9): 2030 - 2036. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. R. Folsom, G. W. Evans, J. J. Carr, A. E. Stillman, and Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study I Association of Traditional and Nontraditional Cardiovascular Risk Factors with Coronary Artery Calcification Angiology, November 1, 2004; 55(6): 613 - 623. [Abstract] [PDF]

				A. R. Folsom, G. W. Evans, J. J. Carr, A. E. Stillman, and Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study I Association of Traditional and Nontraditional Cardiovascular Risk Factors with Coronary Artery Calcification Angiology, November 1, 2004; 55(6): 613 - 623. [Abstract] [PDF]

				I. J. Kullo, K. R. Bailey, L. F. Bielak, P. F. Sheedy II, G. G. Klee, S. L. Kardia, P. A. Peyser, E. Boerwinkle, and S. T. Turner Lack of Association Between Lipoprotein(a) and Coronary Artery Calcification in the Genetic Epidemiology Network of Arteriopathy (GENOA) Study Mayo Clin. Proc., October 1, 2004; 79(10): 1258 - 1263. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. M. Engler, M. B. Engler, M. J. Malloy, E. Y. Chiu, M. C. Schloetter, S. M. Paul, M. Stuehlinger, K. Y. Lin, J. P. Cooke, J. D. Morrow, et al. Antioxidant Vitamins C and E Improve Endothelial Function in Children With Hyperlipidemia: Endothelial Assessment of Risk from Lipids in Youth (EARLY) Trial Circulation, September 2, 2003; 108(9): 1059 - 1063. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				References Circulation, December 17, 2002; 106(25): 3373 - 3421. [Full Text]

				J. Z. Ayanian, M. B. Landrum, and B. J. McNeil Use of Cholesterol-Lowering Therapy by Elderly Adults After Myocardial Infarction Arch Intern Med, May 13, 2002; 162(9): 1013 - 1019. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Lipoprotein(a) and Subclinical Coronary Atherosclerosis in Women Journal Watch Women's Health, April 1, 2000; 2000(401): 17 - 17. [Full Text]