Lipoprotein (A) (LP(A)): Its Relevance to Diabetic Angiopathy

Lipoprotein(a)(Lp(a)) was first discovered by Berg as a low-density lipoprotein like molecule in 1963. Much of the interest in the Lp(a) stems from several clinical studies that showed a highly significant association between elevated levels of the lipoprotein and susceptibilitiy to coronary artery disease(1). Compelling evidences accumulated in these 10 years indicate that Lp(a) is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular disease. Lp(a) is now believed to be independent from serum cholesterol and other risks. Lp(a) is composed of a lipid core, low-density lipoprotein containing an apoprotein B-100 subunit, and a unique lipoprotein ”apoprotein(a)(apo(a))”. The apo(a) subunit is linked by a disulfide bond to the apo B subunit.