The Relationship Between Lipoprotein (A) Levels and Microvascular Complications in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

E. Dogan¹, O. Mavis², N. Turan³, H. Demir⁴ and M. Ilhan⁵

¹Department of Medical Oncology, Hacettepe University, Medical Faculty, Ankara (Turkey). ²Department of Internal Medicine, Taksim Trainning Hospital,  

Lipoprotein (a) is known to have thrombotic and atherogenic features. Considering thrombotic and atherogenic features of Lp (a), the present study was planned to investigate the significance of lipoprotein (a) as a risk factor for the development of microvascular and macrovascular complications of diabetes. A total of 71 subjects were included in the study. In order to assess nephropathy, 24-hour urine samples were collected and microalbuminuria levels were measured. Ophthalmologists evaluated presence of retinopathy by eye-ground examination. Neuropathy was detected via anamnesis, physical examination, and electroneuromyography . Thirty-six percent of the patients had nephropathy, 26% had retinopathy and 22% had neuropathy. There were no significant difference between Lp (a) levels and vascular complications (P > 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between Lp (a) and micro- or macrovascular complications in patients with type 2 diabetes.

nephropathy; retinopathy; neuropathy; lipoprotein (a)