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Causes of elevated lipoprotein (a) in serum
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Increased concentration of lipoprotein (a) in serum is a risk factor for the development of IHD. According to the literature, the average content of apo (a) in the blood of patients with ischemic heart disease is 12 mg / dl. In 2/3 patients, the development of atherosclerosis depends on the presence of elevated lipoprotein concentrations in the blood (a). A close correlation was found between the concentration of lipoprotein (a) in the serum and the development of IHD.
Epidemiological studies have shown that in individuals with normal cholesterol concentration, but with an elevated lipoprotein (a) content (above 30 mg / dl), the risk of developing coronary heart disease is at least 2 times higher. Risk increases by 8 times if concentrations of LDL and lipoprotein (a) are simultaneously increased. Myocardial infarction is 4 times more common in young people, to which the content of apo (a) exceeds 48 mg / dl. In patients with obliterating atherosclerosis, the content of apo (a) is also increased.
The concentration of lipoprotein (a) in the blood increases after surgical operations, in patients with cancer, in diabetes mellitus, acute phase of rheumatism.
The similarity of the structure of apo (a) and acute phase proteins allows us to consider it as a specific acute phase protein in destructive atherosclerotic processes in the vascular wall.
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