Lp(a) results are in ….

[EU95PTM]

I’ve recently had bloods taken to test for FH and Lp(a) levels. I had a heart attack in 2022 at aged 51 and was started on a whole ton of medications afterwards including Atorvastatin 80mg and then a bit later adding in 10mg Ezetimibe. My LDL cholesterol has not been able to reach the target of 1.4 despite the maximum doses of statins.

My LP(a) result is in and it is 308.5 mg/dl which, if I am correct, makes it very, very high and will probably explain why I had a heart attack at such a young age.

Can I ask if anyone else had had similar results?

I know as a heart attack survivor that I am already substantially at risk of having another, but does this result raise this risk even higher?

I will be speaking with my Lipid Consultant in due course as I have siblings and children that will be offered cascade testing, but would be interested to hear other’s experiences.

[sandybrown]

Hi,

I am afraid I have not had any blood test for (Lpa). After heart procedure station medication as a secondary medication is necessary, dosage ??

LDL not alone is the number to look for, there are many other parameters are looked at now days.

Have a discussion with the lipid clinic, what are other blood test numbers including blood glucose?

Take care.

[Cliff_G]

Yes, mine was 206, and I thought that was high enough!

I ended up (age 63) with a Penetrating Aortic Ulcer in the aortic arch, plus several narrowed coronaries (for which 1 stent, one CABG), all found during emergency open chest surgery for an aortic dissection - probably ultimately caused by the ulcer, more than likely by my high Lp(a) in my view. I had a 'heart attack' at the same time but it was described as secondary to my AD, as the AD probably closed off the coronaries at the aorta.

It was the lipids consultant who ran the Lp(a) test during optimisation of my cholesterol meds for secondary protection following my AD.

As you'll know, there's no meds proven or approved to lower Lp(a), though there's a dialysis-like weekly procedure which sounds a pain. There is some conflicting data that a supplement called NAC can reduce it. (Search Pubmed for n-acetylcysteine AND Lp(a).

As to being at greater risk for future events, I take this as probable. My consultant says that the best way is to reduce LDL as much as possible, and I'm still on that road.

There's a fairly recent paper which may be of interest. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/378... They mention PCSK9 which my consultant has said may be an option for me.

HTH

[Cliff_G in reply to Cliff_G]

p.s. I asked whether my children (all around age 40) should be tested, and the Consultant said probably not necessary at present, presumably because there's no real treatment. I will mention it to them though, as I think it's their choice, not that of my own consultant.

[EU95PTM in reply to Cliff_G]

Cliff, thank you for taking time to respond to my query. I’m sorry to hear about your own experience, it sounds a lot to deal with.

I’ll take a look at the paper you mention, thank you.

My children are in their twenties and they both know about this recent test result. One wants to be tested, the other doesn’t but they are adults and it is their own choice.

[Naka]

EU95 to put it in layman's terms. The Lp(a) is the cement and the LDL are the bricks. Right now there is no treatment for Lp(a). It's hereditary not diet or lifestyle related . By treating the LDL with a statin and lowering it eliminate the bricks so you can't build that wall and clog the arteries.