Lipoprotein(a): An update on testing and treatment

High levels of Lp(a)—a fatty particle similar to LDL cholesterol—may double or triple a person’s risk of a heart attack. About one in five adults may have elevated levels, which also raises the risk of stroke and aortic stenosis. Unlike LDL, which rises with age and is influenced by diet and exercise, Lp(a) remains largely constant over a person’s lifetime, so a one-time test suffices for screening. Lp(a) testing is becoming more common now that five promising new Lp(a) therapies are in development.