Testing
10-30% of the world's population has Lp(a) above 50 mg/dL, Spanish clinical laboratory review finds, mapping who to test and how (Adv Lab Med 2025)
Original title: Fundamentals of lipoprotein(a) request and quantification in the clinical laboratory
This review addresses Lp(a) request and quantification practice in the clinical laboratory, framed against cardiovascular disease's continued status as Spain's leading cause of death. It notes Lp(a) is associated with higher risk of aortic valve stenosis, heart failure, ischaemic stroke, ischaemic heart disease and peripheral arterial disease, and that hyperlipoproteinemia(a), affecting 10 to 30% of the world's population with values above 50 mg/dL, is a common health problem. Citing recent evidence confirming Lp(a)'s independent association with atherosclerotic cardiovascular events, alongside the emergence of specific Lp(a)-lowering therapies, the authors review who should undergo Lp(a) testing, recommended quantification methods, desirable concentration targets, and Lp(a)'s role in reclassifying cardiovascular risk, aiming to guide practical laboratory implementation of Lp(a) testing.
Original abstract
Cardiovascular diseases keep being the leading cause of mortality in Spain. Efforts should be intensified to identify new risk factors that may contribute to increasing cardiovascular risk. Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) has been associated with a higher risk for developing aortic valve stenosis, heart failure, ischemic stroke, ischemic heart disease and peripheral arterial disease. Hyperlipoproteinemia(a) is a common health problem. Between 10 and 30 % of the world population have Lp(a) values exceeding 50 mg/dL. The scientific evidence provided in the recent years confirms an independent association between Lp(a) and the risk for having an arteriosclerotic cardiovascular event. This finding, added to the emergence of new specific therapies for reducing Lp(a) has raised interest in the quantification of this lipoprotein. The objective of this paper was to perform a review of the evidence available to identify the patients who will benefit from undergoing Lp(a) testing and determine the recommended quantification methods, the desirable concentrations, and the role of Lp(a) determination in reclassifying the cardiovascular risk of patients.
Summary written by lp-a.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 18 August 2026. Methods.