The low molecular weight apo (a) phenotype as a risk factor for coronary heart diseases in Iranian men

Abstract

Coronary heart disease(CHD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among Asians. Numerous studies have reported that, high lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] levels arc associated with CHD.Lp(a) is a plasma fraction containing LDL and one or possibly two copies of a highly glycosylated Apo(a) antigen which binds to Apo B-100. According to the molecular weight of apo (a) isoforms, the apo (a) phenotypes were divided into low molecular weight (LMW) and high molecular weight (HMW) groups. The aim of the present study was evaluation of apo (a) phenotypes group as a risk factor for CHD diseases in Iranian men by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis followed by immunoblotting. The study group consisted of 60 men, who all had angiographiclly proven CHD, and the control group consisted of 60 age matched apparently healthy men. Comparing the frequencies of LMW and HMW apo(a) phenotypes of patients with control group were showed that, the frequencies of HMW was lower (43.3% Vs 83.3%), and the frequency of LMW phenotype was higher in patients group (56.7% Vs 16.7%). Additionally, the Lp (a) level was significantly elevated in LMW class of patients group (p < 0.01). These results showed that the apo (a) phenotypes along with serum level of Lp (a) could be a useful risk predictors for the development of CHD.