Objectives: To assess the relationship between lipoprotein (a) [Lp (a)] and lipoprotein oxidation in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).
Design and methods: Oxidation of apolipoprotein (apo)B-containing lipoproteins, vitamin E, carotenoids, lipid-lipoprotein levels were determined in 171 CAD and 70 non-CAD subjects.
Results: In CAD patients with Lp (a) concentrations >/= 30 mg/dL; total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), malondialdehyde (MDA), and apo B levels were significantly higher and lag-time and age were significantly lower than those of CAD patients with Lp (a) concentrations < 30 mg/dL. In non-CAD subjects with Lp (a) concentrations >/= 30 mg/dL; TC, LDL-C, and vitamin E levels were significantly higher and lag-time was significantly lower than those of non-CAD subjects with Lp (a) concentrations < 30 mg/dL. In CAD patients, Lp (a) correlated negatively with lag-time and positively with MDA levels. Lp (a) correlated negatively with lag-time and vitamin E levels in non-CAD subjects.
Conclusions: We have shown that plasma apo B-containing lipoproteins of both CAD and non-CAD subjects with Lp (a) levels >/= 30 mg/dL are more susceptible to in vitro oxidative modification than those of subjects with Lp (a) levels < 30 mg/dL. The relationship between Lp (a) and enhanced susceptibility of apo B-containing lipoproteins to oxidation, appears to support routine investigation of Lp (a).