Abstract

BACKGROUND
The risk of atherosclerosis is increased in subjects with diabetes mellitus. Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic vascular disease in subjects without diabetes. The contribution of Lp(a) to the increased risk for atherosclerosis and diabetic complications in subjects with diabetes is not well known. In this report we examined the relationship between Lp(a) levels and development of vascular (macro- and microvascular) complications, and the relationship between Lp(a) and other risk factors for vascular complications in subjects with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus(NIDDM), METHODS: For this study we evaluated 152 patients with NIDDM(72 women and 80 men). Lp(a) level was measured with N-Latex Lp(a) Reagent. Electrocardiography, coronary angiography, brain CT/MRI, doppler velocimetry and peripheral angiography were done for diagnosis of macravascular complieations, and fundus camera, nerve conduction velocity, BBV (beat to beat variation), VPT(vibration perception threshold) and 24-hour urine protein amount were examined for diagnosis of microvascular complications. RESULTS: Lp(a) levels in subjects with ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease and diabetic retinopathy were significantly higher than those in subjects without above mentioned diseases. ApoB/ApoA1 ratio and LDL-cholesterol levels in subjects with Lp(a) level>30mg/dL were significantly higher than those in subjects with Lp(a) level 30mg/dL, and Lp(a) has a positive correlation with ApoB/ApoA1 ratio and LDL-cholesterol in NIDDM patients with vasculopathy. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that high Lp(a) levels seem to be associated with macrovascular and microvascular(especially with retinopathy) complications in subjects with NIDDM and Lp(a) level should be measured in the NIDDM with high level of ApoB/ApoA1 ratio and/or LDL-eholesterol.

• Keywords: Lipoprotein(a);NIDDM;Vasculopathy;Risk factor;