Lipoprotein(a) - update on this common heart disease risk factor

Lipoprotein(a)/ Lp(a) is a genetically determined blood lipid particle; the higher it is the higher the risk of heart attack, stroke & aortic valve diesase. Lp(a) is not routinely tested for, it is not part of a lipid profile, so many people with high Lp(a) are unaware of it. At LondonSwissMedical we recommend it should be tested at least once, but certainly if we assess your cardiovascular, metabolic, liver or kidney health, if you have diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, obesity, PMOS or have had a heart attack, stroke or pre-eclampsia.

Unlike other lipid particles, eg LDL cholesterol, Lp(a) cannot be changed through diet, exercise, or drugs like statins.

Until now no medicine has been able to target it directly. An experimental injectable drug called Pelacarsen, has just finished being tested in a large trial called Lp(a)HORIZON. In this trial, >8000 people with high Lp(a) & heart disease were given either pelacarsen or placebo, alongside their usual heart medicines. The drug lowered Lp(a) but did not show less heart attacks, strokes, cardiovascular deaths, or urgent heart procedures compared with placebo. This does not mean lowering Lp(a) is not important, just that lowering it this way, by this amount, or in this population, does not reduce harm.

Professor Whyte &/or Dr Kelly can help with your cardiovascular assessment, measuring & understanding Lp(a) & your overall risk and reducing the risk.