Lp(a) lipoprotein in patients with arterial insufficiency of the lower extremities.

The serum concentration of Lp(a) lipoprotein was determined in 66 patients with peripheral arterial insufficiency of the lower extremities (PAI) and 164 controls. The mean level was higher among the patients than among the controls (236 +/- 248 vs. 129 +/- 159 mg/l, p = 0.01), and values above 300 mg/l were more common among the patients (22/66 vs. 21/164, p less than 0.001). The difference between the 26 female patients and the 94 female controls was statistically significant (280 +/- 268 vs. 118 +/- 141 mg/l, p less than 0.001), but not the difference between the 40 male patients and the 70 male controls (208 +/- 235 vs. 142 +/- 182 mg/l). A high Lp(a) lipoprotein level was not associated with a high LDL-cholesterol level, and there was no significant correlation between the serum levels of Lp(a) lipoprotein and triglycerides++, total cholesterol or HDL-cholesterol. The results indicate, that high Lp(a) lipoprotein levels may be a risk factor for PAI in women.