Abstract
Objective : Lipoprotein (a) [Lp (a) ], a low density lipoprotein particle bound to apolipoprotein (a) by a disulfide bond with apo B-100, has been strongly suggested to be an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic disease. Since cardiovascular disease and cerebrovascular disease are major causes of death in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), we analyzed serum Lp (a) concentrations and Lp (a) phenotypes in these patients.
Methods : Serum Lp (a) and other lipids were measured by a specific ELISA and the standard methods, respectively, in 58 patients with SLE, 28 patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS), and 37 healthy subjects as normal controls. The Lp (a) phenotype was determined by immunoblotting analysis.
Results : SLE patients had a significantly higher mean Lp (a) concentration than PSS patients [26.0 ± 25.8 (SD) vs. 14.5 ± 10.5, p<0.05], but there was no statistical difference in the other lipids. The S 3 phenotype accounted for 52% of SLE patients and possibly had a higher frequency than in the normal population.
Conclusion : Higher serum Lp (a) levels may contribute to an increased incidence of atherosclerosis in patients with SLE.
