ASSOCIATION OF SERUM LIPOPROTEIN (A) WITH INTIMA-MEDIA THICKNESS AS TARGET-ORGAN DAMAGE IN ESSENTIAI HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS

Abstract

Background- Carotid intima - media thickness (IMT) is a marker of early atherosclerosis, its anatomic extent and progression. IMT is increased in subjects with several risk factors and is a predictor of cardiovascular events and target organ damage (TOD). Some studies show an association between serum lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] and coronary artery disease and target organ damage in hypertensive patients, yet little is known about the association of serum LP(a) elevation with TOD in essential hypertensive patients. Some studies suggest a possible role of Lp(a) in the genesis of essential hypertension. We, therefore, aimed to investigate the association of serum Lp(a) elevation with carotid- IMT as target organ damage in a group of essential hypertensive patients. .Methods- Our total of 134 subjects consisted of 39 control subjects , and 95 essential hypertensive patients, whose lipids (cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-C and LDL-C), FBS, BUN, Creat, Ca, K and Na as well as lipoprotein (a) were measured. Carotid IMT was measured by B-mode ultrasonography, and carotid-femoral plaque occurrence (plaque score) was assesed.<br />Results- There were significant differences in the IMT and plaque scores between the two groups of hypertensive and normal subjects; however, there was no significant difference in LP (a) between the two groups. There were no significant correlations between serum LP (a) with IMT or plaque scores in the hypertensive group. There was no significant correlation of carotid IMT, serum LP (a) and plaque scores with stages of hypertension.<br />Conclusions- We could not show clearly the elevation of serum LP (a) in essential hypertensive patients, nor could we find any clear association between serum lipoprotein (a) with IMT as target-organ damage in essential hypertensive patients.