The Relationship Between Serum Lipoprotein (a) Levels and Ischemic Stroke Risk: A Cohort Study in the Chinese Population

The role of atherosclerosis in ischemic stroke has been intensively investigated in recent years, and lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] is found to have roles during the process. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and serum Lp(a) levels in the Chinese population. All consecutive patients with first-ever acute ischemic stroke during 2011–2012 were recruited to participate in the study. Serum Lp(a) levels and routine tests were examined in both groups. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was assessed on admission blinded to Lp(a) levels. In this study, 181 patients with acute ischemic stroke were included. There was a significant difference in median serum Lp(a) levels between acute ischemic stroke patients and control cases (328 [IQR, 173–554] vs. 145 [IQR, 66–254] mg/L, respectively; P = 0.000). Lp(a) levels increased with increasing severity of stroke as defined by the NIHSS score (P = 0.000). For the entire group, when adjusting for other possible risk factors, an elevated Lp(a) level was an independent risk factor for stroke, and a serum Lp(a) level ≥300 mg/L was associated with a 2.23-fold increase in AIS (P = 0.015). In addition, this association was stronger in male than in female patients. High Lp(a) levels are significantly related to stroke, independent from other traditional and emerging risk factors, suggesting that they may play a role in its pathogenesis. It should be considered as a routine risk factor for stroke in the Chinese population.