Lipoprotein (a)

Overview:

Lipoprotein(a) is an LDL particle with an additional protein attached. Its concentration is set mostly by genetics and changes little with diet, exercise or most cholesterol medications, which makes it unlike the rest of the lipid panel. Raised levels are associated with a higher risk of heart attack, stroke and narrowing of the aortic valve, independently of LDL cholesterol. Because the level is largely fixed, it usually only needs measuring once in a lifetime, and current guidance increasingly supports doing so at least once, particularly where there is a family history of early cardiovascular disease.

Categories:

Heart

Biomarkers:

1 biomarker