Lp(a) concentrations and phenotypes in children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Subjects with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) have an increased incidence of coronary heart disease. Several studies have suggested that Lp(a) levels may be increased in IDDM subjects, although these studies have been limited by the lack of information on apo(a) phenotype and urinary albumin excretion. We compared Lp(a) concentrations in 66 children with IDDM and 18 non-diabetic children; all were non-Hispanic whites and none had detectable albuminuria. Lp(a) concentrations (mg/dl) were lower in subjects with IDDM than in non-diabetic subjects (12.0 ± 2.2 vs. 20.0 ± 6.1, respectively), although these means were not significantly different (P = 0.276). Postpubertal subjects, particularly males, had increased Lp(a) concentrations relative to prepubertal subjects (P = 0.041). Higher apo(a) molecular weight was associated with decreased Lp(a) concentrations in both diabetic and non-diabetic subjects. However, apo(a) size was not different in diabetic and non-diabetic subjects. Lp(a) concentrations were not significantly correlated with glycosylated hemoglobin levels in diabetic subjects (r = 0.11, P = NS). We also found similar Lp(a) concentrations in postpubertal IDDM subjects compared with adult non-Hispanic white non-diabetic subjects (n = 208) from the San Antonio Heart Study, a population-based study. These observations do not support increased Lp(a) concentrations in young normoalbuminuric IDDM subjects.