What is Lp(a) and why should I get it checked?

Lipoprotein A (or Lp(a)) is a type of cholesterol that is, unfortunately, supercharged for causing damage to the artery walls, leading to inflammation and setting the stage for heart attacks, strokes, and blood clots.

Lp(a) is important to check at least once in a lifetime because it can help personalize your risk of cardiovascular disease. If your levels are high (>107 umol/L), it is worth being much more aggressive at monitoring and reducing your cardiovascular risk.

If you decide to reduce your risk from elevated Lp(a) using medication, the group of medications called PCSK9 inhibitors are often first line while statins are also reasonable. There is a drug in development called Pelacarsen that may be beneficial in reducing Lp(a) levels but as of now, there is no robust way for us to reduce Lp(a).