Association Between Plasma Lipoprotein(a) and Endothelial Dysfunction in Normocholesterolemic and Non-Diabetic Patients With Angiographically Normal Coronary Arteries

Tatsuya Ioka; Hiromi Tasaki; Akira Yashiro; Kazuhito Yamashita; Kiyoshi Ozumi; Masato Tsutsui; Ryouji Kouzuma; Masahiro Okazaki; Yasuhide Nakashima

doi:10.1253/circj.66.267

Clinical Investigation

Association Between Plasma Lipoprotein(a) and Endothelial Dysfunction in Normocholesterolemic and Non-Diabetic Patients With Angiographically Normal Coronary Arteries

Tatsuya Ioka, Hiromi Tasaki, Akira Yashiro, Kazuhito Yamashita, Kiyoshi Ozumi, Masato Tsutsui, Ryouji Kouzuma, Masahiro Okazaki, Yasuhide Nakashima

Author information

Tatsuya Ioka
Second Department of Internal Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Medicine
Hiromi Tasaki
Second Department of Internal Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Medicine
Akira Yashiro
Second Department of Internal Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Medicine
Kazuhito Yamashita
Second Department of Internal Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Medicine
Kiyoshi Ozumi
Second Department of Internal Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Medicine
Masato Tsutsui
Second Department of Internal Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Medicine
Ryouji Kouzuma
Second Department of Internal Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Medicine
Masahiro Okazaki
Second Department of Internal Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Medicine
Yasuhide Nakashima
Second Department of Internal Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Medicine

Keywords: Acetylcholine, Endothelial dysfunction, Lipoprotein(a), Normocholesterolemia, Normoglycemia

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2002 Volume 66 Issue 3 Pages 267-271

DOI https://doi.org/10.1253/circj.66.267

Details

Abstract

The present study was designed to examine whether elevated levels of lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) are related to the impairment of the endothelium-dependent vasoresponse to acetylcholine (ACh) in normocholesterolemic and non-diabetic human normal coronary arteries. ACh (30 μg) was injected into the left main coronary artery of 31 patients (serum low-density cholesterol <160 mg/dl and fasting plasma glucose <126 mg/dl) with angiographically normal coronary arteries, and the relation between diameter change and lipid levels was analyzed. The mean diameter change of all coronary segments examined (segments 6, 8, 11 and 13) was reduced by 14.6±26.5% in response to ACh, but increased by 23.3±6.0% in response to nitroglycerin, suggesting endothelial dysfunction in those arteries. The mean diameter change of the left anterior descending artery or left circumflex artery in each patient was negatively correlated only with the level of Lp(a). Stepwise multiple regression analysis also revealed that only Lp(a) among the lipids showed significant correlation with impaired vasodilation (p=0.033). These findings suggest that elevated levels of plasma Lp(a) might be a strong predictor of endothelial dysfunction in normocholesterolemic and non-diabetic subjects. (Circ J 2002; 66: 267 -271)

Corresponding author

Register with J-STAGE for free!