Lipoprotein(a)

Lipoproteins are particles made of protein and fats (lipids). They carry cholesterol through your bloodstream to your cells. The two main groups of lipoproteins are called HDL (high-density lipoprotein) or "good" cholesterol and LDL (low-density lipoprotein) or "bad" cholesterol.

Lipoprotein (a) is a type of LDL. These lipoproteins carry cholesterol to your cells through your arteries (blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood from your heart and lungs to your body). If you have high levels of LDL particles, cholesterol can build up in your arteries and form blockages called plaques. This condition is known as atherosclerosis, or "hardening of the arteries," which means that the arteries thicken and become less flexible, and it can lead to many serious medical conditions.

Lipoprotein (a) particles are stickier than other types of LDL particles, so they may be more likely to cause blockages and blood clots in your arteries. As a result, high levels of lipoprotein (a) may mean you have a high risk for heart disease, stroke, and other serious conditions related to blockages and blood clots in your arteries.

Your lipoprotein (a) level is mostly set by your genes. Unlike other cholesterol numbers, it usually does not change much with diet, exercise, or standard cholesterol-lowering medicines such as statins. This is why providers usually only need to test it once or twice in a lifetime.

A high lipoprotein (a) level may mean you have a high risk for heart and blood vessel disease, even if your cholesterol levels are normal and you are healthy.

Lipoprotein (a) levels usually don't change much over time. But test results may be affected by certain health conditions. Talk with your provider about what your test results mean.

As a general guide, levels around 75 nmol/L and higher are linked to a higher risk of heart disease and stroke, and levels at or above 125 nmol/L are considered a notable risk-enhancing factor by several heart societies. If your level is high, your provider may suggest treating your other heart risk factors more aggressively.