Objective To investigate the therapeutic effects of nicotinic acid sustained-release tablets on lipoprotein(a)Lp(a) in patients with acute anterior circulation cerebral infarction, its influence on carotid artery intima thickness and plaque area, and analyze the relationship between the treatment of nicotinic acid sustained-release tablets and prognosis of acute cerebral infarction.

Methods A total of 142 patients with acute anterior circulation cerebral infarction were randomly divided into the control group(atorvastatin treatment group) and observation group(atorvastatin + niacin sustained-release tablets treatment group). The severity of illness in two groups on admission were evaluated using the NIHSS, and the serum levels of Lp(a) were detected at 2d after admission. The intima media thickness (IMT) and carotid plaque area of common carotid artery in two groups were measured by color Doppler flow imaging. The Lp(a), common carotid artery IMT and plaque area were remeasured, and the mRS was used to evaluate the independent living ability of two groups after 90d of discharge.

Results The Lp(a) level was positively correlated with NIHSS score, common carotid artery IMT and plaque area at admission (r = 0.525, P ＜ 0.01; r = 0.231, P ＜ 0.01; r = 0.252, P ＜ 0.05). After 90 days of discharge, the level of Lp(a) in the observation group decreased compared with that of control group (P ＜ 0.05), the carotid artery IMT and plaque area reduced compared with that of control group (P ＜ 0.05 to P ＜ 0.01), and there was no statistical significant in the mRS grading between two groups (P ＞ 0.05).

Conclusions The level of Lp(a) is positively correlated with the severity of acute anterior circulation cerebral infarction. Nicotinic acid sustained-release tablets can effectively decrease the level of Lp(a), reduce the IMT and carotid plaque area, and improve the prognosis of cerebral infarction.