Apheresis
Elevated Lp(a) amplifies peripheral arterial disease risk and worsens outcomes, but apheresis remains the only approved lowering option, review finds (Rev Cardiovasc Med 2025)
Original title: Lipoprotein A and the Association With Peripheral Arterial Disease: A Review of the Risk in Peripheral Arterial Disease
This systematic review by Kar searched PubMed and the Cochrane Library in April 2025 for English-language articles on lipoprotein(a) and peripheral arterial disease (PAD), a condition sharing risk factors with coronary artery disease and capable of progressing to acute or chronic limb-threatening ischaemia and amputation. It concludes that elevated Lp(a) can amplify the risk of coronary artery disease, PAD and polyvascular disease together, and portends worse outcomes in patients who already have both, raising the risk of acute limb ischaemia, coronary and peripheral revascularisation, cardiovascular death and all-cause mortality. The review positions elevated Lp(a) as a risk factor for PAD development in patients with existing coronary disease, and notes that no approved medical therapy specifically lowers Lp(a), leaving lipoprotein apheresis as the only currently approved option in these patients. A synthesis of existing clinical research rather than new data.
Original abstract
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a global atherosclerotic disease which can lead to acute limb ischemia, chronic limb-threatening ischemia, and limb amputation. It has similar risk factors to coronary artery disease (CAD). Elevated lipoprotein A (Lp[a]) is associated with CAD, myocardial infarction, and PAD. Patients with PAD can have CAD and polyvascular disease. An extensive PubMed and Cochrane library search was performed in April 2025 using the words "Lipoprotein A and PAD", "Elevated lipoprotein A and PAD", and "High Lipoprotein A and PAD" to obtain relevant English articles for this systematic review. An elevated Lp(a) may enhance the risk of PAD. Elevated Lp(a) can amplify the risk of CAD, PAD, and polyvascular disease. It may portend worse outcomes in patients with CAD and PAD. It can increase the risk of acute limb ischemia, coronary revascularization, peripheral revascularization, cardiovascular death, and all-cause mortality. Hence, elevated Lp(a) may serve as a risk factor for patients with CAD who could potentially develop PAD. No currently approved medical therapy aimed at Lp(a) reduction exists; only lipoprotein apheresis is approved to lower Lp(a) levels in these patients. This systematic review discusses the role of an elevated Lp(a) in PAD, clinical research in PAD with elevated Lp(a), and the current treatment for PAD and elevated Lp(a).
Summary written by lp-a.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 17 August 2026. Methods.