Lipoprotein (a) and stroke: A meta-analysis of observational studies

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE - The relationship between elevated lipoprotein (a) levels[Lp(a)] and stroke is controversial. We systematically reviewed the literature to determine whether Lp(a) is a risk factor for stroke. METHODS - We searched MEDLINE (1966 to 2006), EMBASE (1974 to 2006), and Google scholar for articles on Lp(a) and cerebrovascular disease. From potentially relevant references retrieved, we excluded uncontrolled studies, studies of children with stroke, studies investigating carotid atherosclerosis, and studies lacking adequate data. RESULTS - Thirty-one studies comprising 56 010 subjects with >4609 stroke events met all inclusion criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. ..