Lipoprotein(a) levels in systemic lupus erythematosus.

To determine lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] levels in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its possible correlation with thrombosis, disease activity, anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) and steroid therapy.Serum Lp(a) levels were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA) in 34 Caucasian patients with SLE and compared to 66 healthy subjects.In patients with SLE Lp(a) levels were higher than in controls (42 +/- 35 vs 26 +/- 25 mg/dl, p = 0.01). Lp(a) levels were high (> or = 30 mg/dl) in 56% of the patients with SLE and in 30% of controls (p = 0.02) but were not correlated with the clinical and laboratory findings.Lp(a) levels are significantly higher in patients with SLE and are not influenced by disease activity, thrombosis, aCL and steroid therapy.