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What makes elevated Lp(a) unique may also make it a threat to your patients

Watch this video to see what makes it so different from other cardiovascular risk factors.

Read the Transcript >

Introduction to Lp(a)

Lp(a) icon
  • Lp(a) is a unique form of lipoprotein that is proatherogenic, proinflammatory, and prothrombotic at elevated levels4,5
     

  • Large-scale genetic studies have confirmed that elevated Lp(a) is an independent and causal cardiovascular risk factor2,6-8
     

  • Elevated Lp(a) contributes to a consistent and lifelong risk of heart attack and stroke2

Uncover more about elevated Lp(a) 

Elevated Lp(a) is one of the strongest single genetic risk factors for coronary artery disease.8

Screening for elevated Lp(a) requires only a simple blood test that can be added to any routine blood work.9

Knowing a patient's Lp(a) levels can help inform a lifetime of cardiovascular
care.2,3,10-12

References: 1. Tsimikas S, Fazio S, Ferdinand KC, et al. NHLBI Working Group recommendations to reduce lipoprotein(a)-mediated risk of cardiovascular disease and aortic stenosis. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2018;71(2):177-192. 2. Kronenberg F, Mora S, Stroes ESG, et al. Lipoprotein(a) in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and aortic stenosis: a European Atherosclerosis Society consensus statement. Eur Heart J. 2022;14:43(39):3925-3946. 3. Wilson DP, Jacobson TA, Jones PH, et al. Use of lipoprotein(a) in clinical practice: A biomarker whose time has come. A scientific statement from the National Lipid Association. J Clin Lipidol. 2019;13(3):374-392. 4. Reyes-Soffer G, Ginsberg HN, Berglund L, et al; American Heart Association Council on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology; Council on Cardiovascular Radiology and Intervention; and Council on Peripheral Vascular Disease. Lipoprotein(a): a genetically determined, causal, and prevalent risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2022;42(1):e48-e60. 5. Jawi MM, Frohlich J, Chan SY. Lipoprotein(a) the insurgent: a new insight into the structure, function, metabolism, pathogenicity, and medications affecting lipoprotein(a) molecule. J Lipids. 2020;2020:3491764. doi: 10.1155/2020/3491764 6. Enas EA, Varkey B, Dharmarajan TS, Pare G, Bahl VK. Lipoprotein(a): An independent, genetic, and causal factor for cardiovascular disease and acute myocardial infarction. Indian Heart J. 2019;71(2):99-112. 7. Nordestgaard BG, Chapman MJ, Ray K, et al; European Atherosclerosis Society Consensus Panel. Lipoprotein(a) as a cardiovascular risk factor: current status. Eur Heart J. 2010;31(23):2844-2853. 8. Tsimikas S. A test in context: Lipoprotein(a): Diagnosis, prognosis, controversies, and emerging therapies. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2017;69(6):692-711. 9. Farzam K, Senthilkumaran S. Lipoprotein A. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022. Updated September 2, 2022. Accessed August 22, 2023. https://www.statpearls.com/ArticleLibrary/viewarticle/130795 10. Virani SS, Koschinsky ML, Maher L, et al. Global think tank on the clinical considerations and management of lipoprotein(a): The top questions and answers regarding what clinicians need to know. Prog Cardiovasc Dis. 2022;73:32-40. 11. Willeit P, Kiechl S, Kronenberg F, et al. Discrimination and net reclassification of cardiovascular risk with lipoprotein(a): prospective 15-year outcomes in the Bruneck Study. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2014;64(9):851-860. 12. Raitakari O, Kartiosuo N, Pahkala K, et al. Lipoprotein(a) in youth and prediction of major cardiovascular outcomes in adulthood. Circulation. 2023;147(1):23-31.