Comparison of Lipoprotein (a) and Apolipoproteins in Children with and without Familial History of Premature Coronary Artery Disease

The importance of cardiovascular risk factors like hypertension, obesity and dyslipidemia in prediction of later coronary artery disease (CAD) in offspring of high-risk family is well known. This study was performed to compare the level of lipoprotein (a) and apolipoproteins as new risk factors in children and adolescents with and without a family history of premature CAD. This case-control study was performed from November 2004 until September 2005. All patients with premature myocardial infarction hospitalized in the coronary care units (CCU) of Vali-e-Asr hospital, who survived and had children between 2-14 years old, were defined as parents of the case group. 86 of them were chosen with simple non-random method. Only one child from each family was selected randomly. The control group consisted of children with nearest age and sex to children of the case group from the neighbors with equivalent socioeconomic status, without a family history of premature myocardial infarction. Subjects had been instructed to fast for 12 to 14 hours. Venous blood was analyzed for lipoprotein (a) and Apolipoprotein A1 and B100. The level of lipoprotein (a) was significantly higher in the case group. There was not a significant difference of lipoprotein levels between the two groups. Measurement of lipoprotein (a) is recommended in screening programs in offspring of high-risk families.