A dominant role of lipoprotein(a) in the investigation and evaluation of parameters indicating the development of cervical atherosclerosis.

The correlation of serum levels of lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] with the progression of cervical atherosclerosis was investigated and compared with the common risk factors. The carotid arteries of 100 subjects were examined by direct bi-directional Doppler ultrasonic imaging. A highly significant elevation of the mean values of Lp(a) in group 1 (P1, with smooth surface plaques) and in group 2 (P2, with exulcerations) vs the control (P0, with no detectable plaques) was established. Low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) was highly significantly elevated in P1, but only significantly higher in P2. Total cholesterol (TC) was significantly higher in P1 and highly significantly elevated in P2. Diabetes was also found to be significantly associated with atherosclerotic plaque formation, in contrast to triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and its ratio to TC, hypertension and cigarette smoking. In a smaller collective of 30 patients--40-60 years old--being equally divided into 3 groups (p0, p1, p2), Lp(a) showed again to be the most significant parameter. LDL-C, TC and its ratio to HDL-C were highly significantly altered in subgroup p1 and significantly altered in subgroup p2. In this selection there were 12 patients with and 18 without cerebral infarction (CI). The difference of the medians of Lp(a) serum levels between these 2 groups was also found to be highly significant.