Abstract 17067: Circulating Lipoprotein (a) Level, Apolipoprotein (a) Isoform Size, and Risk of Unexplained Ischemic Stroke in Younger Adults (The THrombophilia in Cryptogenic stroKe [THICK] Study)

Background: Lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] comprises an apolipoprotein (a) [apo(a)] molecule that contains a variable number of kringle IV type 2 (KIV-2) repeats. KIV-2 number determines Lp(a) size but relates inversely to serum Lp(a) levels. Both smaller apo(a) isoforms and higher Lp(a) levels have been linked to coronary heart disease and, less so, stroke, but their independent contributions are less well defined. The role of Lp(a) in younger adults with cryptogenic stroke remains largely unexamined. Methods: We evaluated Lp(a) and apo(a) isoforms in a prospective case-control study of prothrombotic risk factors for unexplained ischemic stroke in subjects ages 18 to 64. Cases consisted of patients admitted to Weill Cornell Medical Center (2002 [[Unable to Display Character: –]] 2011) with cryptogenic stroke based on modified TOAST criteria. Controls included volunteers recruited from the area. Lp(a) was measured in 255 cases (≥2 months post stroke) or 390 controls with both a molecular-weight (KIV-2 numb...