Abstract
Objectives: Elevated plasma lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is a significant risk factor for vascular disease. Standardization of Lp(a) mass measurement is complicated by the heterogeneity of apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)]. We investigated whether Lp(a) cholesterol measurement, which is not influenced by apo(a) size, is a viable alternative to measuring Lp(a) mass. Design and methods: Plasma Lp(a) cholesterol was measured electrophoretically, with and without ultracentrifugation, and results were compared to each other and to immunoturbidimetrically measured Lp(a) mass in 470 subjects. Results: Ultracentrifuged and whole plasma Lp(a) cholesterol levels demonstrated high correlation (R = 0.964). All samples with detectable (≥2.0 mg/dl) Lp(a) cholesterol had Lp(a) mass >30 mg/dl (the clinically relevant cutpoint), while 59 samples with Lp(a) mass >30 mg/dl did not have detectable Lp(a) cholesterol. Conclusions: Lp(a) cholesterol can be measured in whole plasma without interference from VLDL lipoproteins. The relative clinical merits of measuring Lp(a) cholesterol vs. Lp(a) mass or both in combination deserves investigation.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 481-488 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Clinical Biochemistry |
Volume | 37 |
Issue number | 6 SPEC. ISS. |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 2004 |
Keywords
- Apolipoprotein(a)
- Lipoprotein(a)
- Lp(a) cholesterol
- Lp(a) mass
- Ultracentrifugation
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Biochemistry