Men with High Lp(a)
The (a) part of Lp(a) might increase the chance of clotting, but an important effect of high Lp(a) has to do with inflammation.
Lp(a) carries something called oxidized phospholipids. Those trigger inflammation and calcification of the aortic valve making it stiff. This leads to aortic stenosis.
Because Lp(a) isn’t measured with a standard cholesterol profile, many people don’t even know they have elevated levels.
It’s tricky because it can be measured in two different ways.
If your Lp(a) is measured in mg/dl, a normal level is less than 30 and high is greater than 50. If your Lp(a) is measured in nmol/L, a normal level is less than 75 and high is greater than 125.
Your Lp(a) is determined by your genes. You inherit one “allele” (half of a gene) for Lp(a) from each of your parents. If you have high Lp(a), it’s likely that at least one of your parents has high Lp(a).
It’s also important to know that if you have elevated Lp(a), each time you have a child you have a 50/50 chance of passing it to them.
Anyone with a family history of cardiovascular disease or a diagnosis of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) should have their Lp(a) measured.
While high Lp(a) occurs in about 20% of the general population, people with FH have a 30-50% chance of having both elevated LDL and Lp(a). Added together, this results in a very high risk of early cardiovascular disease.
It’s always been believed that Lp(a) levels remain relatively stable through a person’s life, but recent studies might show there is a bit more variability than we previously thought. You shouldn’t be surprised if your Lp(a) levels fluctuate as much as 20% up or down.
Other potential treatments are being studied in clinical trials.
Even without medication, you can work to reduce all other risk factors. If you are overweight, try to get to a healthier weight. If you smoke, please quit. These are not easy changes to make, but the sooner you do it – the better. If you have other complications, like high blood pressure or diabetes, take all prescribed medications.
Anyone who has an elevated Lp(a) should work on lowering their LDL cholesterol as much as possible. People with no history of vascular disease should aim for less than 100 mg/dl. People with vascular disease strive for levels less than 70 mg/dL. And if you have heart disease and other cardiac risk factors, aim for an LDL-C less than 55 mg/dL.
We can say that studies performed in people with very high, high, and modestly elevated cholesterol show that for every 40 points in reduction, cardiac risk is reduced by 20%.
The first is puberty. As young men go through puberty, their HDL (the “good” cholesterol) tends to fall. This does not happen to young women, and low HDL is an additional risk factor for early heart disease.
There is also some evidence to suggest that women are protected from the symptoms of heart disease before menopause, probably because of estrogen.
Plus, in the past (not as much of an issue today) more men than women smoked. Smoking is poison for everyone, but for those with FH, smoking is doubly poisonous.
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