Lipoprotein a

[clareykb]

Hey anyone have any experience of high LPa when all there other cholesterol levels are low? I went for testing as have a family history of high cholesterol and high LPa. All my other family members who have had tests (Mum, brothers, uncle and cousin) either had very high cholesterol like overall cholesterol of 8 and LDL of 4 and LPa super high and have been put on a statin. Or have low everything. I however had a cholesterol level of 3.9, super low LDL and triglycerides but a high LPa at 125. From what I have read there isn't really treatment for high LPa and they just control for other risk factors...but then I don't have any...actually been on treatment previously for low blood pressure so that's not an issue either😂 Just wondered if anyone had any real world experiences as everything I find online seems to be aimed at people with high Cholesterol too.

Are you talking nmol/L ?

In the NHS 90 to 200 is often considered moderate elevation not high.
High is often over 200 and very high is over 400.

The drugs they would typically use for this now would be a PCSK9 inhibitor, but it sounds like NHS guidelines mean you are not a candidate for PCSK9 as your cholesterol levels (and overall risk) is not high enough.

A non-prescription option to try to reduce PCSK9 is Berberine supplementation but I suggest you discuss your overall risk with GP - as it sounds like you are not high risk, but are higher/moderate risk.

As you no doubt know, LP(a) is a genetic thing so little you are doing wrong in terms of lifestyle as your other cholesterol and trig numbers are good.

If you are overly concerned I would get a private LDL-p subfraction particle test to more accurately assess your risk, and see how much small dense particles size you have. Small particle size is unhealthy, large particle size (including large LDL particle size) is healthy.

I went with Healthily, Lipoprotein Particle Check, but note that they use a different more simplistic scale/chart for LP(a) to the NHS and consider 0-75 normal, and over 75 elevated/high.

Thanks thats really helpful.

Hi, I have high lp(a) - 207 nmol/L which was caught in a routine test as I have a stenosis in my carotid artery. My cardiologist seems very untroubled by it though I am now taking statins to lower my (already low ish) ldls to a new, lower level which is desirable for my lp(a) level. As a pp says, it is genetic and just one of those things. It seems that keeping my LDLs low is the single best thing I can do. Take care.