Mechanisms
About 30% of hypertensive patients in one clinic had elevated Lp(a), though the mechanistic link to blood pressure remains unclear, a review (Curr Hypertens Rep 2021)
Original title: Lipoprotein (a) and Hypertension
This review by Ward, Nolde, Chan, Carnagarin, Watts and Schlaich examines the association between elevated blood pressure and Lp(a), an independent and causal risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and calcific aortic valve disease. Despite this established cardiovascular role, the authors find limited data directly linking Lp(a) to hypertension, and limited mechanistic evidence for a link via renal impairment or direct vascular effects. In their own hypertensive, at-risk clinic cohort, approximately 30% of patients had elevated Lp(a), suggesting Lp(a) measurement may be useful for risk stratification in this population even without a clearly established causal mechanism specific to hypertension.
Original abstract
Purpose Of Review: To provide an overview of the associations between elevated blood pressure and lipoprotein (a) and possible causal links, as well as data on the prevalence of elevated lipoprotein (a) in a cohort of hypertensive patients.
Recent Findings: Elevated lipoprotein (a) is now considered to be an independent and causal risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and calcific aortic valve disease. Despite this, there are limited data demonstrating an association between elevated lipoprotein (a) and hypertension. Further, there is limited mechanistic data linking lipoprotein (a) and hypertension through either renal impairment or direct effects on the vasculature. Despite the links between lipoprotein (a) and atherosclerosis, there are limited data demonstrating an association with hypertension. Evidence from our clinic suggests that ~ 30% of the patients in this at-risk, hypertensive cohort had elevated lipoprotein (a) levels and that measurement of lipoprotein (a) maybe useful in risk stratification.
Summary written by lp-a.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 18 August 2026. Methods.