SERUM-LIPOPROTEIN (A) IN RENAL-TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS RECEIVING CYCLOSPORINE MONOTHERAPY

Coronary heart disease is more common in patients with chronic renal failure and is a major cause of death after renal transplantation. Elevated serum lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) is a known risk factor for coronary heart disease in the general population. We measured the serum concentration of Lp(a) in 58 renal transplant recipients (40 male, 18 female) on cyclosporin monotherapy, and in 58 age- and sex-matched controls. Serum Lp(a) was significantly elevated in the transplant patients with a median of 27.5 (range < 0.8-140.3) mg/dl compared to 7.6 (range < 0.8-87.4) mg/dl in controls (P < 0.001). Total serum cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and total triglyceride concentrations were also significantly raised (P < 0.001) in the transplant recipients. The increased serum Lp(a) may contribute to the increased cardiovascular morbidity associated with renal transplantation.