Lipoprotein (a): More than a bystander in the etiology of hypertension? A study on essential hypertensive patients not yet on treatment.

BACKGROUND Hypertension (HTN) is a very common disorder with a substantial impact on public health because of its complications. OBJECTIVES To study the association of serum lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] elevation with essential hypertension (eHTN). PATIENTS AND METHODS This study was conducted on a group of essential hypertensive patients. Laboratory exams consisting of serum creatinine and Lp(a) were measured. RESULTS Ninety five essential hypertensive patients were enrolled to the study. Serum LP (a) in patients was 46.5±20. In patients an inverse correlation between serum Lp(a) andcreatinine clearance was seen (r = -0.175 p<0.05). There was a significant correlation between serum Lp(a) and age (r =0.191 p<0.05) or duration of HTN (known duration of hypertension period) (r =0.362 p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that Lp(a) may be involved as a cofactor in essential hypertension, with a mechanism that remains to be elucidated.