An experience of lipoprotein (a) dosage in a Moroccan population of 184 subjects

One hundred and eighty-four patients underwent complete lipid analysis (total cholesterol, HDL and LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoproteins A1 and B, lipoprotein (a)) and coronary angiography, in order to evaluate the discriminant value of the lipoprotein (a). Subjects with non-significant coronary stenoses (< 50% of the lumen) were used as a control group (n = 84). The others were considered to be pathological. The total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides were measured by an enzymatic colorimetric method. The LDL cholesterol was calculated by Friedewald's formula. The apolipoprotein A1 and B were measured by immunoturbidimetry and the lipoprotein (a) by an Elisa. The results showed a relationship between the different lipid levels, especially between high lipoprotein (a), and the severity of the coronary disease. A quantitative and qualitative study showed no significant influence of the other risk factors on the mean lipoprotein (a) level. Gender and age had no influence. Therefore, the higher the lipoprotein (a) level, the greater was the coronary risk, independently of the other associated risk factors.