Increase in Lipoprotein (a) levels during COVID-19 hospitalization tied to VTE risk: Study

Written By : Medha Baranwal |Medically Reviewed By : Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli Published On 2022-01-29T09:15:03+05:30 | Updated On 29 Jan 2022 9:24 AM IST

Netherlands: Results from a pilot study published in the journal Atherosclerosis showed that in patients hospitalized with COVID-19, the levels of lipoprotein(a) increase threefold during hospitalization. And, an increase in Lp(a) levels during the COVID-19 acute phase was strongly linked with venous thromboembolism (VTE) incidence. In contrast to this, the change in the inflammatory biomarkers interleukin (IL)-6 and CRP was not associated with VTE incidence.

In patients with Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), thrombosis is shown to be a major driver of mortality and adverse outcomes. Hypercoagulability may be related to the cytokine storm associated with COVID-19, which is driven mainly by IL-6. An increase in Lp(a) levels following IL-6 upregulation and Lp(a) has anti-fibrinolytic properties.

Against the above background, Erik S.G. Stroes, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and colleagues aimed to investigate whether Lp(a) elevation may contribute to the pro-thrombotic state hallmarking COVID-19 patients.

For this purpose, the researchers measured Lp(a), IL-6, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in 219 hospitalized patients with COVID-19. The baseline biomarkers and increases during admission were related to VTE incidence and clinical outcomes.

Based on the study, the researchers found the following:

· Lp(a) levels increased significantly by a mean of 16.9 mg/dl in patients with COVID-19 during the first 21 days after admission.

· Serial Lp(a) measurements were available in 146 patients.

· In the top tertile of Lp(a) increase, 56.2% of COVID-19 patients experienced a VTE event compared to 18.4% in the lowest tertile (RR 3.06).

· This association remained significant after adjusting for age, sex, IL-6 and CRP increase, and a number of measurements.

· Increases in IL-6 and CRP were not associated with VTE. Increase in Lp(a) was strongly correlated with increase in IL-6 (r = 0.44).

To conclude, increases in Lp(a) levels during the acute phase of COVID-19 were strongly associated with VTE incidence. The acute increase in anti-fibrinolytic Lp(a) may tilt the balance to VTE in patients hospitalized for COVID-19.

Reference:

The study titled, "Lipoprotein(a), venous thromboembolism and COVID-19: A pilot study," was published in the journal Atherosclerosis.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2021.12.008

Atherosclerosis journalCOVID-19lipoprotein avenous thromboembolism

Source : Atherosclerosis journal

Medha Baranwal

MSc. Biotechnology

Medha Baranwal joined Medical Dialogues as an Editor in 2018 for Speciality Medical Dialogues. She covers several medical specialties including Cardiac Sciences, Dentistry, Diabetes and Endo, Diagnostics, ENT, Gastroenterology, Neurosciences, and Radiology. She has completed her Bachelors in Biomedical Sciences from DU and then pursued Masters in Biotechnology from Amity University. She has a working experience of 5 years in the field of medical research writing, scientific writing, content writing, and content management. She can be contacted at editorial@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751

Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli

Dr Kamal Kant Kohli-MBBS, DTCD- a chest specialist with more than 30 years of practice and a flair for writing clinical articles, Dr Kamal Kant Kohli joined Medical Dialogues as a Chief Editor of Medical News. Besides writing articles, as an editor, he proofreads and verifies all the medical content published on Medical Dialogues including those coming from journals, studies,medical conferences,guidelines etc. Email: drkohli@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751