LP(A) LIPOPROTEIN IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE STROKE

Serum lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] was determined in 205 patients (71 +/- 10 years; mean age +/- SD) with acute stroke and in 204 nonhospitalized referent subjects in the 60- to 80-year age range. Lp(a) levels were significantly higher in the stroke patients (median 87 vs. 63 mg/l; p = 0.002). Within the group of stroke patients, Lp(a) levels were similar among men and women, correlated modestly with age (r = 0.15; p = 0.04) and increased only marginally through the first days after stroke. Patients with concomitant ischemic heart disease tended to have higher Lp(a) than those without coronary disease (median 103 vs. 71 mg/l; p = 0.07). Hypertensive patients had higher levels than normotensives (97 vs. 73 mg/l; p = 0.02) and this relation between hypertension and Lp(a) was particularly strong among patients below 65 years of age (p = 0.01). Median Lp(a) level was 75 mg/l in patients not on beta blocker treatment, 103 mg/l in patients on selective beta blockers and 150 mg/l in those on nonselective beta blockers. In a multiple regression model, the use of beta blockers was a predictor of high Lp(a) levels (p = 0.03) that was independent of other clinical variables.