[High lipoprotein(a) in children of patients with premature coronary artery disease: relation to own and parental factors].

AIM: To elucidate associations between high level of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] in children of persons with premature (onset <55 years, men; <60 years, women) coronary heart disease (PCHD) with own and parental characteristics. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We surveyed 133 families: probands (n=122, 80.7% men) with PCHD, spouses (n=95, 12.1% men) and native probands children (n=177, 55.8% men) aged 5-34 years. Factors associated with high ( more or equal 30 mg/dl) LP(a) were selected by logistical regression with adjustment for sex and age separately in younger (5-17 years, n=83) and adult (18-34 years, n=94) children. RESULTS: High LP(a) was high in 21 (25.3%) younger children. Factors independently associated with high LP(a) in this group were apoprotein B (apo B) (odds ratio [OR] 1.03, confidence interval (CI) 1.00-1.05, =0.025) and plasminogen 1.03 (CI 1.01-1.06, =0.027) of these children; high Lp(a) 8.92 (CI 1.98-40.2, =0.0044) and apo B 1.03 (CI 1.00-1.05, =0.047) of consort-parent; high Lp(a) 12.3 (CI 2.88-52.8, =0.0007), high education 5.59 (CI 1.36-23.1, =0.017) and atherogenic dyslipidemia (a-DLP) 0.16 (CI 0.04-0.74, =0.019) of proband-parent. LP(a) was high in 25 (26.6%) adult children. It was independently associated with own low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) 1.71 (CI 1.09-2.69, =0.019); high Lp(a) 13.6 (CI 2.39-77.7, =0.0033) and LDL-C 3.38 (CI 1.28-8.92, =0.014) of consort-parent; high Lp(a) 26.9 (CI 5.48-132.3, =0.0001) and a-DLP 0.13 (CI 0.02-0.82, =0.030) of proband-parent. CONCLUSIONS: High Lp(a) levels in these groups of children of patients with premature CHD were associated with characteristics of both parents especially with their elevated Lp(a). Other predictors of high LP(a) were also plausible except high education of proband-parent which possibly reflected some unaccounted factors. Association of high Lp() of children of both age groups with atherogenic dyslipidemia of proband-parent requires confirmation.