High serum lipoprotein(A) levels are an independent risk factor for cerebral infarction

Abstract

Background and Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate the role of high serum lipoprotein(a) levels in a group of patients with a relatively early onset of cerebral infarction as a whole and in a subgroup with the perforating artery occlusion subtype of cerebral infarction. Methods: Fifty-four patients with cerebral infarction, the onset of which was before age 65 years (37 men, 17 women; mean age, 61.9±7.7 years) were examined in this study. When patients with atrial fibrillation were excluded to omit cardiac embolic strokes from analysis, the group consisted of 45 patients. The patients were classified into two subtype groups, the perforating artery occlusion group and the cortical artery occlusion group, by using magnetic resonance imaging. Lipoprotein(a) levels were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Four biochemical variables (serum levels of lipoprotein(a), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides) and other potential risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking habits, alcohol intake, and family history were analyzed by stepwise logistic regression to determine the independent and significant risk factors for cerebral infarction without atrial fibrillation. Results: The incidence of subjects with serum lipoprotein(a) levels ≥ 42.6 mg/dL, which is the 95th percentile level of the control subjects, was significantly increased in the total cerebral infarction group (P