Effect of ageing on plasma lipoprotein(a) levels

Background Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is a risk factor for atherosclerosis and increases with age. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of ageing on Lp(a) for three different apo(a) phenotypes. Methods We measured plasma Lp(a) concentrations in 551 unrelated Japanese subjects (20-88 years of age). We performed statistical analyses separately for three apo(a) phenotypes: the low-molecular-weight (LMW) phenotype with the F, B or S1 isoform, the intermediate-molecular-weight (IMW) phenotype with the S2 isoform and the high-molecular-weight (HMW) phenotype with the S3 or S4 isoform. Results For each phenotype, the mean plasma Lp(a) concentration and the frequency of Lp(a) concentrations greater than or equal to 250 mg/L increased with age. Further, a statistically significant difference was always found between the younger subjects (20-39 years of age) and the elderly (over 60 years). The frequency of coronary heart disease increased with age, particularly for the LMW and IMW phenotypes. Conclusions We conclude that ageing elevates plasma Lp(a) concentrations, which may have a role in the prevalence of coronary heart disease in the elderly, especially those with the LMW or IMW phenotypes.