Lipoprotein (a) and Apolipoprotein E ε4 as Independent Risk Factors for Ischemic Stroke

Abstract

Background

Controversies exist concerning the association between serum lipids and ischemic stroke.

Objective

To investigate the relationship between serum lipid, apolipoprotein E (apoE) genotype and risk of ischemic stroke.

Methods

We measured the concentrations of serum lipids, lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)], and apoE genotype, as well as the distribution of other potential risk factors, in 90 pairs of age- and sex-matched ischemic stroke patients and stroke-free controls.

Results

The prevalence of hypertension, family history of stroke and hypertension, and smoking and drinking habits were significantly higher in cases than in controls. Total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and Lp(a) levels were higher in ischemic stroke patients than in controls (5.7 ± 1.2 versus 5.3 ± 1.2 mmol/l, P<0.05; 3.7 ± 1.0 versus 3.1 ± 1.0 mmol/l, P< 0.01; and 197.6 ± 30.6 versus 90.4 ± 11.2 mg/l, P< 0.01, respectively). The cases had lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-l concentrations compared with the controls. The apoE ε3/ε4 genotype was more frequent in cases (21.1%) than in controls (8.9%, P<0.05).

Conclusion

The results of the study indicate that serum Lp(a) level and apoE ε4 are the prominent lipidic predictors for ischemic stroke in addition to the general risk factors such as history of hypertension, family history of stroke and cigarette smoking.