An elevated serum lipoprotein(a) level is an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic diseases, and the lipoprotein(a) level is correlated to preclinical atherosclerosis. To evaluate the association between lipoprotein(a) and aortic selerosis, mitral sclerosis, and abdominal aorta thickness, we measured the aortic valve thickness, mitral valve thickness and abdominal aorta thickness. Also, we assessed the relationship between the aortic valve sclerosis, mitral valve sclerosis, abdominal aorta thickness and other coronary risk factors.

We measured serum lipoprotein(a) in 116 patients(52 men, 64 women) with mean age of 58.7±13.9 years. Aortic valve thickness was assessed by parasternal long and short axis two dimensional echocardiography, mitral valve thickness was measured by apical 4 chamber view. The abdominal aorta thickness was measured by the subcostal view.

The level of lipoprotein(a) was significantly correlated with the aortic valve thickness, but not with the miral valve thickness and the abdominal aorta thickness. lipoprotein(a) level was higher in smoking patients(p<0.05), and not related to other ariables such as blood pressure, age, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein and low density lipoprotein. Coronary angiography was performed in 18 paitents, and there was a tendency of the coronary artery disease with high level of the lipoprotein(a)(p<0.005). There was no significant difference in the thickness of aortic valve in terms of sex, blood pressure, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein, triglyceride or blodo sugar.

We conclude that increased serum levels of lipoprotein(a) are closely related to aortic valve sclerosis and may be a risk factor for coronary artery disease.