Lipoprotein(a) and fibrinogen in restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty

Abstract

Restenosis after primarily successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), which occurs in about 30–40 % of the cases remains a major limiting factor of this procedure. In order to study the possible association of the incidence of restenosis and established risk factors of coronary artery disease levels of lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)), fibrinogen, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol as well as the plasma viscosity were determined in 98 patients who all had undergone follow-up coronary angiography within 6 ± 2 months after PTCA. Clinical parameters, baseline coronary angiography findings as well as the lipid-lowering medication (administered to 45 % of the patients) were not significantly different between the group of patients with restenosis (n=45) and without restenosis (n=53). A significantly higher risk of restenosis after PTCA was found in patients with Lp(a) levels exceeding 3mg/dl as well as in patients with extensively elevated fibrinogen concentrations (> 400 mg/dl) whereas plasma viscosity showed no differences between patients with and without restenosis after PTCA. While there was no association between the frequency of restenosis and conventional lipid parameters low levels of Lp(a) and very elevated levels of fibrinogen seem to be predictors for an increased risk of restenosis after primarily successful PTCA.