Elevated Lp(a): key facts

Lipoprotein(a), known as Lp(a) for short, is a particle made by the liver, which consists of cholesterol, fats and proteins. The amount of Lp(a) a person’s body makes is determined by the genes passed down by their parents.

Most people have some Lp(a) in their body, but about 1 in 5 people have high levels of Lp(a), because of a specific gene in their DNA. Most people are unaware if they have elevated Lp(a).

People living with elevated Lp(a) have a higher risk of developing early heart disease, heart attacks and strokes.

Most standard cholesterol tests do not currently include screening for Lp(a). Recent guidelines suggest that people who are known to be at risk of developing cardiovascular (heart and blood vessel) disease due to other risk factors should be tested for levels of Lp(a).

Current medicines that are used to lower lipid (fat) levels in the blood do not have a meaningful effect on Lp(a) and are less effective overall in people with high levels of Lp(a).

New treatment options under investigation have the potential to lower levels of Lp(a) and thereby reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

When I was first diagnosed, there was a real sense of elation. It brought some certainty to what was going on and that I wasn’t imagining that I was having an issue in my chest. It was real and it was the right thing to persevere until I got a proper diagnosis

Making sense of Lp(a) >