Abstract
Lipoprotein(a) is a genetically determined lipoprotein that consists of a low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-like particle with an apolipoprotein(a) bound to it. It has been shown that high lipoprotein(a) levels are observationally and causally associated with increased risk of myocardial infarction, aortic valve stenosis, heart failure, ischemic stroke, and cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. Also, individuals with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) have increased levels of lipoprotein(a) and high lipoprotein(a) adds to the already high risk of myocardial infarction in these patients. The exact physiological and pathological mechanisms of lipoprotein(a) have not yet been established, but it is proposed to act in wound healing and to be athero- and thrombogenic. Today, no effective and safe therapy to lower lipoprotein(a) levels is available, but a new promising antisense oligonucleotide targeting the production of apolipoprotein(a) that lowers lipoprotein(a) by 80% is available, and a current phase 3 trial will show whether lowering of lipoprotein(a) indeed will lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.
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Langsted, A., Nordestgaard, B.G. (2022). Lipoprotein(a). In: Shapiro, M.D. (eds) Cardiovascular Risk Assessment in Primary Prevention. Contemporary Cardiology. Humana, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-98824-1_16
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-98824-1_16
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