ARYA Atherosclerosis7520120316The relation between lipoprotein (a) levels and findings of coronary artery angiography408408ENMansourSholehvarAssociate Professor, Cardiac Rehabilitation Research Centre, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.. h_sanei@med.mui.ac.irHamidSaneiYeganehSatei20120316BACKGROUND: Lipoprotein (a) (LP (a)) has been identified as one of the independent risk factors for coronary artery diseases. Various studies on the amount of serum LP (a) with relation to intensity and extent of observed lesions on coronary angiography have yielded in different results. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the importance of LP (a) levels and its relationship with the findings of coronary artery angiography.METHODS: The present research was conducted by considering clinical symptoms, level of serum lipids and amount of LP (a) in 92 patients who were under angiography because of chronic stable angina. The angiography was performed in a standard way with conventional views and was interpreted by at least two cardiologists.RESULTS: The levels of LP (a) were considerably higher in the group with two-vessel coronary artery lesions (55 ± 45 mg/dl) as compared with the patients with one-vessel (30.3 ± 27 mg/dl) or three-vessel diseases (26.9 ± 15 mg/dl). The statistical analysis of the results in these three groups demonstrated that there was no relationship between the levels of serum LP (a) and intensity of observed lesions on the coronary angiography.DISCUSSION: Although a few studies have reported a statistical relationship between the serum levels of LP (a) and intensity of observed lesions on coronary angiography, similar to numerous other researches, such a relationship was not observed in the present study. However, the findings of this study confirm that LP (a) should be considered as a risk factor for early coronary artery diseases.Keywords: Lipoprotein (a), Coronary Artery Angiography, Chronic Stable Angina, Risk Factors