Abstract The Lp(a) lipoprotein was purified from human plasma by ultracentrifugation and gel filtration on 6% agarose. It contained 27% protein, 65% lipid, and 8% carbohydrate. Quantification of the Lp(a) lipoprotein was performed by radial immunodiffusion. Both within‐assay and between‐assay coefficients of variation were inversely concentration dependent, decreasing from 20% and 27%, respectively, at 3 mg/100 ml to 7% and 12%, respectively, at concentrations above 8 mg/100 ml. The lower limit of sensitivity of the assay was 1.5 mg/100 ml. Of 340 unrelated fasting subjects tested, 81% had levels of the Lp(a) lipoprotein exceeding this lower limit. The distribution of Lp(a) concentrations in this population was skewed with a mean of 14 mg/100 ml and a median of 8 mg/100 ml. Lp(a) lipoprotein was not significantly correlated with age, sex, or cholesterol or glyceride concentrations.
Albers et al. (1974) studied this question.