Screening for Lp(a)

Patients at high to moderate risk of cardiovascular disease should be screened for elevated levels of lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]) and take niacin to bring their Lp(a) level under 50 mg/dL, according to a consensus statement from the European Atherosclerosis Society.

Lp(a) is a plasma lipoprotein consisting of a cholesterol-rich LDL particle with one molecule of apolipoprotein B-100 and a molecule of apolipoprotein A. About 20% of people are thought to have plasma Lp(a) levels over 50 mg/dL; there are no gender differences in Lp(a) concentrations, but racial differences have been observed, with whites and Asians having lower levels while black and Hispanics generally have somewhat higher levels.
Since lifestyle appears to have little impact on an individual's Lp(a) level, the EAS consensus panel recommends that 1 to 3 g of niacin (nicotinic acid) daily is the best treatment for lowering Lp(a) levels. However, the group acknowledges that there have not been randomized, controlled trials selectively targeting plasma levels of Lp(a) and calls for further studies in both primary- and secondary-prevention settings to better define which patients should be targeted for treatment and what the target level of Lp(a) should be.