Quantitative genetic studies of the human plasma Lp(a) lipoprotein

✍ Scribed by John J. Albers; Patricia Wahl; William R. Hazzard

• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 1974
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 639 KB
• Volume: 11
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0006-2928
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00486079

✦ Synopsis

Lp(a) lipoprotein [Lp(a)] was quantified in 1251 adults, including 300 motherfather-offspring triplets, by a sensitive radial immunodiffusion assay. Lp(a) was not correlated with age, sex, or cholesterol or glyceride concentrations. Significant correlations were found between mother-offspring (r = 0.34), fatheroffspring (r = 0.40), and midparent-offspring (r = 0.52), whereas no correlation was found between husband-wife pairs (r = 0.02). Analysis of triplets separated on the basis of midparent Lp(a) concentrations indicated a resemblance of midparent to offspring regardless of midparent concentration. Bimodality was not detected in any of the offspring distributions. These data are compatible with the hypothesis that the observed quantitative Lp(a) variation is determined by a polygenie model of inheritance. The possibility of major gene effects is not ruled out.