Correlations Between Serum Apolipoprotein A-I and Formation of Vocal Cord Polyp.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the correlations between serum apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I) and the formation of vocal cord polyps (VCPs).

STUDY DESIGN: This study used the nonmatched case-control study method.

METHODS: The serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, ApoA-I, apolipoprotein B (ApoB), and ApoA-I/ApoB levels of 89 VCP patients and 87 normal volunteers were compared. Additionally, such VCP-related factors as excessive vocal use, vocal abuse, smoking, drinking, and the size of VCPs were analyzed.

RESULTS: The two groups did not significantly differ with regard to triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, ApoB, and ApoA-I/ApoB levels (P > 0.05), whereas they did significantly differ with regard to TC, HDL-C, and ApoA-I levels (P < 0.05) according to independent t tests. Logistic regression analysis showed that excessive vocal use and vocal abuse were risk factors for VCPs (P < 0.05), with odds ratio values of 5.675 and 12.781, respectively. The ApoA-I level was negatively associated with VCPs (P < 0.05), with an odds ratio of 0.511; however, TC and HDL-C were not associated with the formation of VCPs (P > 0.05). The size of VCPs in females was negatively correlated with the serum ApoA-I level (r = -0.349, P = 0.032), whereas that in males was not (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: As the serum ApoA-I level was negatively correlated with the formation of VCPs, ApoA-I may reduce the risk of VCPs. These findings may facilitate the prevention and treatment of VCPs.