Inflammation
High-risk Lp(a) above 50 mg/dL is nearly twice as common in inflammatory bowel disease patients as in matched controls (Med Clin (Barc) 2026)
Original title: Prevalence of elevated lipoprotein(a) in individuals with inflammatory bowel disease: Potential implications for cardiovascular risk
This cross-sectional study compared 78 patients with inflammatory bowel disease (56.4% ulcerative colitis, 43.6% Crohn's disease) against 156 age- and sex-matched controls (mean age 56.1 years, 59% male) selected in a 2:1 ratio. Median Lp(a) did not differ significantly between groups (19.1 [IQR 5.9-71.3] vs. 17.5 [7.0-39.0] mg/dL, P = 0.274), but a significantly greater proportion of IBD patients had high-risk Lp(a) above 50 mg/dL than controls (35.9% vs. 19.2%, P = 0.02), and those with elevated Lp(a) showed a non-significant trend toward higher inflammatory markers. The authors suggest Lp(a)'s inflammatory, prothrombotic and proatherogenic properties may contribute to the cardiovascular risk seen in IBD, though the modest sample size limits the strength of that inference.
Original abstract
Background And Aims: Elevated lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] levels are associated with increased cardiovascular risk and have been implicated in various inflammatory conditions. However, evidence regarding the role of Lp(a) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate Lp(a) levels in a group of patients with IBD.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving patients with IBD actively followed by a multidisciplinary team. As part of routine care, patients with cardiovascular risk factors were systematically referred for comprehensive cardiology evaluation. For comparison, a control group matched for age and sex in a 2:1 ratio was randomly selected from the hospital database.
Results: Seventy-eight patients with IBD and 156 controls (mean age 56.1 years; 59% male) were included. Among patients with IBD, 56.4% had ulcerative colitis and 43.6% Crohn's disease. The IBD group showed a non-significant trend toward higher Lp(a) levels compared to controls (median [IQR]: 19.1 [5.9-71.3] vs. 17.5 [7.0-39.0]mg/dL; p=0.274). A significantly greater proportion of IBD patients had high-risk Lp(a) levels (>50mg/dL) than controls (35.9% vs. 19.2%; p=0.02). Additionally, IBD patients with Lp(a)>50mg/dL exhibited a non-significant trend toward higher inflammatory marker values.
Conclusion: A substantial proportion of IBD patients exhibited elevated Lp(a) levels. Given its inflammatory, prothrombotic, and proatherogenic properties, Lp(a) may contribute to the increased cardiovascular risk observed in this population.
Summary written by lp-a.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 17 August 2026. Methods.