Lipoprotein(a) concentrations in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus without cardiovascular disease:: relationship to metabolic parameters and diabetic complications

Background and Aim: Diabetes mellitus is associated with a 3-4 times greater risk of coronary artery disease. One of the major risk factors in diabetics is their abnormal plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels, and a high serum concentration of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is an acknowledged risk factor for atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum Lp(a) levels in type 2 diabetic (T2DM) patients without cardiovascular disease, and assess the relationship between these levels and microvascular complications. Methods and Results: The study involved 86 T2DM patients without cardiovascular disease and 44 healthy control subjects. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of mean age, body mass index, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol or Lp(a) levels. There was a positive correlation between Lp(a) levels and diabetic proliferative retinopathy. Microalbuminuria and serum Lp(a) concentrations were significantly higher in the T2DM patients with proliferative retinopathy, who also had a longer duration of diabetes. Conclusions: Diabetes does not increase serum Lp(a) concentrations. T2DM patients with high Lp(a) levels may be at high risk of retinopathy. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis (2002) 12: 127-131 (C)2002, Medikal Press.