Lp(a) lipoprotein and pre‐β1‐lipoprotein in patients with coronary heart disease

Certain properties of the atypical serum lipoprotein, referred to as pre‐β1‐lipoprotein, suggested that it might be identical to the lipoprotein carrying the Lp(a) antigen: Lp(a) lipoprotein. Both lipoprotein phenomena are under genetic control and occur in a certain proportion of healthy people. Pre‐β1‐lipoprotein occurs more frequently in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) than in the healthy population. The present study of Finnish CHD patients was undertaken to investigate whether a close relationship could be revealed between pre‐β1‐lipoprotein and Lp(a) lipoprotein, as well as between Lp(a) lipoprotein and CHD. Both expectations were realised, and we conclude that pre‐β1‐lipoprotein is very closely related, if not identical to Lp(a) lipoprotein. If the present results are confirmed in future studies, serum analysis for Lp(a) lipoprotein/pre‐β1‐lipoprotein may become a useful tool for the identification in early life of members of a subpopulation which is particularly at risk for developing CHD.