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. 2021 Oct 20;9(11):1510.
doi: 10.3390/biomedicines9111510.

Plasma Lipoprotein(a) Levels as Determinants of Arterial Stiffening in Hypertension

Gabriele Brosolo  1 , Andrea Da Porto  1 , Luca Bulfone  1 , Antonio Vacca  1 , Nicole Bertin  1 , Gianluca Colussi  1 , Alessandro Cavarape  1 , Leonardo A Sechi  1 , Cristiana Catena  1
Affiliations

Plasma Lipoprotein(a) Levels as Determinants of Arterial Stiffening in Hypertension

Gabriele Brosolo et al. Biomedicines. .

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that plasma lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) plays an important role in the development of hypertensive organ damage. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship of Lp(a) with markers of arterial stiffening in hypertension. In 138 essential hypertensive patients free of diabetes, renal failure and cardiovascular complications, we measured plasma lipids and assessed vascular stiffness through the use of pulse wave analysis and calculation of the brachial augmentation index (AIx), and measured the pulse wave velocity (PWV). Plasma Lp(a) levels were significantly and directly related to both AIx (r = 0.490; p < 0.001) and PWV (r = 0.212; p = 0.013). Multiple regression analysis showed that AIx was independently correlated with age, C-reactive protein, and plasma Lp(a) (beta 0.326; p < 0.001), while PWV was independently and directly correlated with age, and inversely with HDL, but not with plasma Lp(a). Logistic regression indicated that plasma Lp(a) could predict an AIx value above the median for the distribution (p = 0.026). Thus, in a highly selective group of patients with hypertension, plasma Lp(a) levels were significantly and directly related to markers of vascular stiffening. Because of the relevance of vascular stiffening to cardiovascular risk, the reduction of Lp(a) levels might be beneficial for cardiovascular protection in patients with hypertension.

Keywords: arterial stiffness; augmentation index; hypertension; lipoprotein(a); pulse wave velocity.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The frequency distribution of plasma Lp(a) levels in hypertensive patients with an augmentation index (AIx) above or below the median value.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Correlation graphs of Log Lp(a). (A) Correlation graph of Log Lp(a) and augmentation index; (B) Correlation graph of Log Lp(a) and pulse wave velocity.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Receiver operating characteristic curve depicting the clinical sensitivity and specificity of plasma Lp(a) values to predict an augmentation index above the median of the distribution. C.I., confidence interval.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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