OBJECTIVE: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is caused by defects in genes coding for proteins involved in low density lipoprotein (LDL) metabolism, and is associated with increased risk of premature coronary heart disease (CHD). The clinical phenotype of FH exhibits marked variability due to additional metabolic and environmental factors, and further biomarkers are required for appropriate risk assessment. The aim of the present study was to search for risk markers among FH patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: Clinical and biochemical parameters of FH subjects with early CHD events (CHD-susceptible) and FH subjects with late or no CHD events (CHD-resistant) were compared. Our data show that CHD-susceptible FH patients had significantly higher Lipoprotein (Lp) (a) levels compared to CHD-resistant FH patients. When subdividing by gender, the main findings were that (i) CHD-susceptible women had significantly higher levels of both Lp(a), low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and apolipoprotein (apo) B as compared to CHD-resistant women, and (ii) CHD-resistant women had significantly lower Lp(a) levels and higher high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and apoA-I levels compared to CHD-resistant men. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that Lp(a) may be an important coronary risk marker in FH patients, in particular in combination with elevated LDL cholesterol levels among female subjects. Thus, measurement of Lp(a) levels may help identifying high-risk individuals who could benefit from an aggressive therapy, including statins to reduce LDL-cholesterol to guideline-recommended levels.
OBJECTIVE:Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is caused by defects in genes coding for proteins involved in low density lipoprotein (LDL) metabolism, and is associated with increased risk of premature coronary heart disease (CHD). The clinical phenotype of FH exhibits marked variability due to additional metabolic and environmental factors, and further biomarkers are required for appropriate risk assessment. The aim of the present study was to search for risk markers among FHpatients. METHODS AND RESULTS: Clinical and biochemical parameters of FH subjects with early CHD events (CHD-susceptible) and FH subjects with late or no CHD events (CHD-resistant) were compared. Our data show that CHD-susceptible FHpatients had significantly higher Lipoprotein (Lp) (a) levels compared to CHD-resistant FHpatients. When subdividing by gender, the main findings were that (i) CHD-susceptible women had significantly higher levels of both Lp(a), low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and apolipoprotein (apo) B as compared to CHD-resistant women, and (ii) CHD-resistant women had significantly lower Lp(a) levels and higher high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and apoA-I levels compared to CHD-resistant men. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that Lp(a) may be an important coronary risk marker in FHpatients, in particular in combination with elevated LDL cholesterol levels among female subjects. Thus, measurement of Lp(a) levels may help identifying high-risk individuals who could benefit from an aggressive therapy, including statins to reduce LDL-cholesterol to guideline-recommended levels.
Authors: Alfred A Bove; William P Santamore; Carol Homko; Abul Kashem; Robert Cross; Timothy R McConnell; Gail Shirk; Francis Menapace Journal: J Nucl Cardiol Date: 2011-08-02 Impact factor: 5.952
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Authors: Nishant P Shah; Neha J Pajidipati; Robert W McGarrah; Ann Marie Navar; Sreekanth Vemulapalli; Michael A Blazing; Svati H Shah; Adrian F Hernandez; Manesh R Patel Journal: Am J Cardiol Date: 2020-04-07 Impact factor: 2.778