Serum levels of Lp(a) are related to waist circumference in NAFLD patients with low prevalence of co-morbidities

Background: Novel evidence suggests a relationship between circulating Lp(a) levels and the presence of cardiovascular events independently from the cardio-metabolic profile.Methods and results: The purpose of this study was to investigate serum Lp(a) concentrations in relation to carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), anthropometric measures, lipid profile, assessment of insulin resistance, and other parameters conventionally used to predict CVD risk, in obese patients suffering from hepatic steatosis (HS), the well-known nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Evidencing the key-points of this research, firstly, serum Lp(a) concentrations were not associated with carotid IMT in this selected population or, consequently, with early atherosclerosis, at least as evaluated by IMT. Secondly, carotid IMT was not predicted by HS severity, as evaluated by ultrasound. Finally, in the adjusted model, Lp(a) was positively predicted by waist circumference (WC) (=0.25, t=2.3, p=0.02) and negatively by central adiposity, assessed as visceral adipose tissue at US (=-0.33, t=-3.0, p=0.003).Conclusion: Serum Lp(a) values may not play a direct role in increasing IMT, albeit associated with WC.