Background: We investigated serum lipoprotein(a) complexes with beta2-glycoprotein I [beta(2)-GPI-Lp(a)] levels in ischemic stroke patients. Methods: Serum beta(2)-GPI-Lp(a), oxidized Lp(a) [ox-Lp(a)] and Lp(a) levels were determined in 124 ischemic stroke patients and 64 normal controls. The severity and clinical outcome of ischemic stroke patients were evaluated by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and Barthel Index (BI), respectively. The correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were performed. Results: Compared with controls, serum beta(2)-GPI-Lp(a), ox-Lp(a) and Lp(a) levels were significantly increased in ischemic stroke patients, and their levels were higher in severe stroke than in mild stroke. The beta(2)-GPI-LP(a) levels were positively related with ox-Lp(a) (r = 0.665, P = 0.000) and Lp(a) (r = 0.195, P = 0.035). NIHSS scores were positively correlated with beta(2)-GPI-Lp(a) (r = 0.322, P = 0.000), while BI was negatively related with beta(2)-GPI-Lp(a) (r = -0.301, P = 0.012). Multiple linear regression analyses showed that beta(2)-GPI-Lp(a) (beta coefficient = 0.338, P = 0.010) and ox-Lp(a) (beta coefficient = 0.265, P = 0.043) were found to account for 25.1% of the variation of NIHSS scores, and that only beta(2)-GPI-Lp(a) (beta coefficient = -0.351, P = 0.005; adjusted R-2 = 0.108) was an independent predictor of BI. Conclusions: Serum beta(2)-GPI-Lp(a) levels were increased in ischemic stroke patients. Elevated beta(2)-GPI-Lp(a) levels were associated with the severity and clinical outcome of ischemic stroke. (c) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.