Apolipoprotein a - yet another thing to worry about.

Ok so I just went to see my 3rd lipid consultant. He was slightly better than the other two in that he thinks, on the balance of probabilities, I've probably got polygenic hypercholesterolemia, not FH. He also accepted there were other risk factors. However since I have a family history of stroke - though only on one side in my parents generation, he now wants to check my aplipoprotein A.

I'm confused about this. He said the problem was if it was high, but I though the problem was if it was low (smoking lowers it apparently, which is why it's a risk factor).

Apparently apoliprotein a is the new big thing. The Simon Broome register group have just come out with some research on it which is controversial.

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needless to say if it is high the answer is to go on statins.

He also said my blood pressure was high. I said it was never high in the doctors, only at the lipid clinic.

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Or is it lipoprotein a?

[Aliwally in reply to Hidden]

I saw two lipid consultants and my story sounds very similar to yours. If I can remember the blood test for apo proteins should be one of the more detailed blood lipid profiles that are done routinely.

I will look out my old results as I have mothballed them as I don't attend any more.

[Hidden in reply to Aliwally]

thanks, yes I thought you'd mentioned it one of other posts. He also tried the 'if my cholesterol was a high as yours, I'd go on statins' routine.

As I've got total cholesterol of 7.4, and LDL of 5.6 (I think) last time it was measured, I don't call that high. I've got a friend who had total cholesterol of 15. That's high.

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Hi someone just messaged me about this that I can't reply to, but here is their blog post on this.

heartattackandthenhs.wordpr...

Looks like quite a good blog I will check it out.

The wider issue here of course is that doctors need to stop seeing us as just a circulatory system - we are people.