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High Lipoprotein(a) but CAC Score 0
Heart & Blood Health | Last Active: 1 day ago | Replies (78)Comment receiving replies
What I learned about Lp(a) from my cardiologist:
-High Lp(a) is strictly heriditary.
-Statins are not effective against Lp(a), in fact, they can raise it by ~20%.
-Statins can cause soft plaque to calcify. Some studies say this "stabilizes" the plaque.
-There is no treatment that can significantly reduce Lp(a).
Replies to "What I learned about Lp(a) from my cardiologist: -High Lp(a) is strictly heriditary. -Statins are not..."
@dianempx // my Lp(a) was never that high, but I nearly halved mine from 92 nmol/L to 49 nmol/L by adopting a very low carb / keto diet. 10 mg rosuvastatin, 10 mg ezetimibe daily for 15+ years.
So high levels of Lp(a) might be hereditary but perhaps they can vary somewhat according to lifestyle?
There is no insurance approved treatment for lp(a), but there are drugs that have been proven to dramatically lower lp(a). The next step, that is ongoing, are studies that show lowering lp(a) lowers MACE. There's a study that is expected to conclude this year. Then FDA approval. Then insurance coverage. The studies I looked at for impact on MACE required 175 nmol/L or greater. So there's also the issue of who would qualify if/when it makes it to insurance coverage. Best case, a few years out? At least this is my uneducated understanding of the process.
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@dianempx , thank you for your comments. I'm reading the same. Do you have high Lp(a)? What did your cardiologist suggest for you? Did he/she talk about studies underway now to treat Lp(a)?
I'm still researching this so I have good questions for a cardiologist. I understand everyone's circumstances are different and should be treated as an individual. Just curious what your cardiologist prescribed for you.