BACKGROUND:Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], which structurally resembles-tissue-type plasminogen, is reported to be associated with coronary atherosclerosis. We examined whether the acute change in Lp(a) by percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is related to restenosis after PTCA.
METHODS AND RESULTS:We measured serum Lp(a) and other lipid parameters (triglycerides and total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol) before and 1 day after PTCA in 143 procedures and 3 days after and 4 months after PTCA in 62 procedures. Quantitative coronary angiography was performed, and restenosis was defined according to three criteria: (1) clinical recurrence of ischemic symptoms, (2) a final stenosis > 50%, and (3) an absolute decrease in minimal lumen diameter > 1/2 of the acute gain in the dilated segment. Restenosis was recognized in 25.9%, 35.7%, and 38.5% of the cases 4 months after PTCA for each criterion, respectively. Although triglyceride and LDL, HDL, and total cholesterol levels were similar in the restenosis and no-restenosis groups before PTCA, Lp(a) was significantly higher in the restenosis group. We found a significant reduction in Lp(a) in the restenosis but not the no-restenosis group 1 day after PTCA. At 3 days after and 4 months after PTCA, Lp(a) was similar in the two groups. A multivariate-analysis revealed that the absolute change in Lp(a) (before versus 1 day after PTCA) to be the sole significant predictor of restenosis among the clinical, angiographic, and plasma lipid parameters examined.
CONCLUSIONS:Lp(a) levels were significantly higher in the restenosis group, and they fell significantly after PTCA in the restenosis group.
METHODS AND RESULTS:We measured serum Lp(a) and other lipid parameters (triglycerides and total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol) before and 1 day after PTCA in 143 procedures and 3 days after and 4 months after PTCA in 62 procedures. Quantitative coronary angiography was performed, and restenosis was defined according to three criteria: (1) clinical recurrence of ischemic symptoms, (2) a final stenosis > 50%, and (3) an absolute decrease in minimal lumen diameter > 1/2 of the acute gain in the dilated segment. Restenosis was recognized in 25.9%, 35.7%, and 38.5% of the cases 4 months after PTCA for each criterion, respectively. Although triglyceride and LDL, HDL, and total cholesterol levels were similar in the restenosis and no-restenosis groups before PTCA, Lp(a) was significantly higher in the restenosis group. We found a significant reduction in Lp(a) in the restenosis but not the no-restenosis group 1 day after PTCA. At 3 days after and 4 months after PTCA, Lp(a) was similar in the two groups. A multivariate-analysis revealed that the absolute change in Lp(a) (before versus 1 day after PTCA) to be the sole significant predictor of restenosis among the clinical, angiographic, and plasma lipid parameters examined.
CONCLUSIONS:Lp(a) levels were significantly higher in the restenosis group, and they fell significantly after PTCA in the restenosis group.