ELEVATED LIPOPROTEIN (a) LEVELS SEEN IN PATIENTS WITH CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE

There are a number of risk factors involved in the etiology of coronary artery disease. Lipoprotein (a) [(Lp(a)] is a genetically determined variant of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol which is highly atherogenic. It has been found to be a common risk factor in families suffering from premature coronary artery disease (CAD). Our study was an analytical cross sectional study, in which Lp(a) levels were measured by ELISA assay in 60 cases of coronary artery disease (CAD), (both sexes, aged 40-60 yrs) and 60 healthy controls. There was a significant difference in serum Lp(a) level between the two with higher levels seen in the CAD cases. It is concluded that it is needed to measure Lp(a) levels as well as the routine lipid profile in CAD patients.