Assessment of Serum Lipoprotein(a) Status in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Introduction: Lipoprotein (a) is made up of an atherogenic LDL lipoparticle and a potentially thrombogenic apoprotein a and is therefore responsible for cardiovascular disease. The objective of this study is to evaluate serum lipoprotein (a) status and to investigate the correlation of elevated serum lipoprotein (a) levels with other cardiovascular risk factors in type 2 diabetics.

Materials and Methods: This is a case-control study involving 82 patients, 37 type 2 diabetic patients and 45 non-diabetic control subjects. Sociodemographic data were collected and each patient underwent routine lipid assessment and lipoprotein (a) testing.

Results: The prevalence of hyperlipoproteinemia (a) is 17.8% in control subjects and 29.7% in type 2 diabetics. HDL cholesterolemia is significantly higher in controls than in type 2 diabetics (p =0.028) while LDL cholesterol and serum lipoprotein (a) levels are higher in type 2 diabetics than in controls with a statistically significant difference (p=0.025 and p=0.026 respectively). The mean lipoprotein (a) values ​​of 0.36±0.34 g/l in women are higher than those of male subjects which are 0.28±0.20 g/l (p=0.171). Mean serum lipoprotein (a) levels of 0.39±0.32 g/l in type 2 diabetics are significantly higher than those of controls which are 0.25±0.21 g/l (p= 0.026). Plasma concentrations of lipoprotein (a) vary with age and appear to be increased beyond the age of 45. There is no correlation between lipoprotein (a) and other cardiovascular risk factors.

Conclusion: Hyperlipoproteinemia (a) is common in type 2 diabetics and women have the highest plasma levels. Serum lipoprotein (a) concentrations are not correlated with other cardiovascular risk factors and therefore constitute an independent risk factor.