Aortic stenosis
Lp(a) varies up to 1000-fold between individuals, and 1 in 4 has levels that raise cardiovascular risk, a review asking if Lp(a) is ready for clinical use (Cardiol Clin 2018)
Original title: Is Lipoprotein(a) Ready for Prime-Time Use in the Clinic?
This review by Ellis and Watts asks whether Lp(a) is ready for routine use in coronary prevention clinics. Lp(a), an LDL-like particle covalently bound to apolipoprotein(a), is under potent genetic control and varies by up to 1000-fold between individuals, with 1 in 4 people having levels that increase atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk. New evidence supports a causal role for Lp(a) in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and aortic valve stenosis, and individuals with elevated Lp(a) carry a high lifetime burden of atherosclerotic disease, a notion important for coronary prevention. The authors pose whether this evidence is sufficient to bring Lp(a) into prime-time clinical use for coronary prevention.
Original abstract
Lipoprotein (a) is a low-density lipoprotein-like particle covalently bound to a glycoprotein called apolipoprotein(a) that is under potent genetic control. Plasma levels of lipoprotein (a) vary by up to 1000-fold among individuals, with 1 in 4 having levels that increase the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. New evidence supports a causal role for lipoprotein (a) in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and aortic valve stenosis. Individuals with elevated lipoprotein (a) have a high life-time burden of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. This notion is important for coronary prevention. But is lipoprotein (a) ready for prime-time use in coronary prevention clinics?
aortic stenosisgeneticstesting
Summary written by lp-a.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 18 August 2026. Methods.