Abstract:
A cross-sectional study conducted during the period from December
2007 to July 2010 to determine and to assess the serum levels of LMW apo(a)
isforms in Sudanese diabetic patients with coronary heart disease in
comparison with a healthy control group and a diabetic group without
coronary heart disease. One hundred-fifty Sudanese diabetic patients with
Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) were selected from different hospitals and
diabetic medical centers in Khartoum states, Sudan, the test group, compared
with two control groups, control group A included 150 diabetic patients
without CHD, whereas control group B included 150 apparently healthy
volunteers. Blood specimens were collected from all groups and serum
Apolipoproteins (LMW apo(a) isoforms, lp(a) apo A1 and apo B) and lipid
profiles (Total cholesterol, Triglyceride, LDL cholesterol and HDL
cholesterol) were determined. Age and gender of the test group were matched
with the control groups. The serum levels of apolipoprotein and lipid profiles
were measured using Roche/Hitachi 902 full-automated analyzer and
commercial kits from Biosystems, BioRad and Sigma Aldrich companies.
Statistical analysis was done, using SPSS computer analysis programme for
analysis of results.
The serum levels of apo(a) LMW isoforms and lipoprotein(a), of the test
group showed significantly raised when compared with control group A and
control group B.
The serum levels of apolipoprotein B, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol
triglyceride and VLDL of the test group were not significantly different when
compared with control group A, whereas they were significantly raised when
compared with control group B.
The serum levels of apolipoprotein A1 and HDL-cholesterol of the test
group showed insignificant difference when compared with control group A,
while they showed significant decrease when compared with control group B.
The study indicated a strong positive correlations between the duration of
diabetes mellitus and the serum levels of LMW apo(a) isoforms, and
lipoprotein(a), and indicated moderate correlations between the duration of
diabetes and apolipoprotein B, and showed a weak correlations between the
duration of diabetes and Total cholesterol and LDL, and indicated a weak
negative correalation between apolipoprotein A1 HDL cholesterol, and
showed insignificant correlations between the duration of diabetes and
Triglyceride and VLDL. The study indicated strong positive correlations
between the age of patients and the serum levels of LMW apo(a) isoforms and
lipoprotein(a). The study demonstrated a moderate correlation between
apolipoprotein A1 and HDL. and a weak correlation between apolipoprotein B
and LDL.
In conclusion the study indicates that LMW apo(a) isoforms and
lipoprotein(a) are important diagnostic markers because they are strongly
correlated with the duration of the diabetes and the age of patients, so they can
be used for early detection of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD)
and in follow up of diabetic patients.
