Apolipoprotein(a), fibrinopeptide A and carotid atherosclerosis in middle-aged men

Thromb Haemost. 1994 Oct;72(4):563-6.

Abstract

The association between apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)], fibrinogen, fibrinopeptide A (FPA) and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) was analyzed in Eastern Finnish men aged 50 to 60 years. Apo(a) correlated directly with carotid bifurcation (r = 0.26, p = 0.001), but not with common carotid IMT. Men in the lowest quartile of apo(a) had thinner (p = 0.013) IMT in bifurcation [1.59 mm (95% CI 1.49; 1.68)] compared to the men in the highest [1.91 mm (95% CI 1.73; 2.09)] apo(a) quartile. The difference remained (p = 0.038) after adjusting for confounders. Plasma fibrinogen was not related to carotid IMT, whereas FPA correlated with common carotid (r = 0.21, p = 0.016) and carotid bifurcation (r = 0.21, p = 0.018) IMT. These associations abolished after adjusting for the confounders. The data suggest that apo(a) associate with carotid atherosclerosis independent of other risk factors for ischemic cardiovascular diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anthropometry
  • Apolipoproteins / analysis*
  • Apoprotein(a)
  • Arteriosclerosis / blood
  • Arteriosclerosis / epidemiology*
  • Blood Pressure
  • Carotid Arteries / anatomy & histology*
  • Carotid Artery Diseases / blood
  • Carotid Artery Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Carotid Artery, Common / anatomy & histology
  • Carotid Stenosis / epidemiology
  • Cohort Studies
  • Diet
  • Fibrinopeptide A / analysis*
  • Finland / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Lipids / blood
  • Lipoprotein(a)*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / ultrastructure
  • Risk Factors
  • Smoking

Substances

  • Apolipoproteins
  • Lipids
  • Lipoprotein(a)
  • Fibrinopeptide A
  • Apoprotein(a)