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Anyone else out there with extremely high lipoprotein (a)?
Hi! I just found out that I have an extremely high lipoprotein (a) of 515 nmol/L. I'm terrified; it's that high. I'm 58 years old and my total cholesterol is 212. My LDL is 141, and my HDL is just 40. My cholesterol/HDL ratio is 5.3. Of course it's a long weekend and I may not be able to reach my doctor tomorrow. I have watched a couple of informational sessions online from various doctors discussing elevated LP(a), but no one mentions anything close to how high mine is. Is there anyone else out there with severely elevated Lp(a)? Thanking you in advance. Sue M.
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I am very familiar with Niacin. Back in the 1970s, I worked at a University for a physician that was almost "in love" with Niacin to treat cholesterol and other lipid disorders. We had a Family Heart Clinic for patients and their family members that had Type II hypercholesteremia.
Some patients did not return to Clinic and my physician boss thought it was because they had been "cured" of their lipid issues. I followed up on these patients, who (toward the end of coming to Clinic) had stellar lipid values. I learned that too many had died of liver failure. I am sure we monitored their liver enzymes but I think high enzymes values were felt to be "okay." Niacin can be very toxic to the liver.
This was a horrible experience that had lasting effects on my memory. There are much safer drugs now. Repatha lowered my husband's lp(a) by more than a third. It is still above the upper level of normal BUT there are drugs now in clinical trials soon to be completed that seem to be very effective and do not have the toxic and possibly deadly effects of Niacin.
His lipids had always been low. Think total cholesterol ran about 135 just on zocor.
Yes- he had been on zocor since 2003. When he started Repatha he was still on zocor. After about three months on zocor and repatha, his CAD specialist discontinued the zocor. At that point, his LDL was 16 and his total cholesterol was about 100 - as I remember. The CAD specialist thought this was dangerous to his brain!
I am definitely not a doctor but I, like others here, have heard that high lipoprotein (a) is genetic. I have read that niacin is the only thing that can reduce it. You may look into that and ask your doctor about it. It has to be the nicotinic acid that causes the flush. Niacinamide does not help with that so make sure to do your research and get the right kind of niacin and the right dosage.
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1 Reactionhsminc,
How were his other lipids?
Given what you noted, and broad recommendation, was he on statins at some point?
My husband had a Lp(a) of 159 - three times the upper limit of normal. We believe this contributed to his ascending aortic aneurysm. Although his elevated lp(a) was discovered in 2003, nothing was recommended except to keep his LDL at 70. He did that until the aneurysm was noted. Then he was referred to a coronary artery disease specialist. That doctor put him on Repatha. He was also on Zocor but his values got too low in the eyes of his doctor. So he no longer takes .Zocor, just Repatha. His Lp(a) is now about 90 and his LDL is 50. His doctor likes these numbers better than the LDL of 16.
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1 ReactionHow old is he? Is he doing dies, lifestyle changes?
My sister has familial hypercholestemia and me with very high Lp(a) so both in our risk gene pool but my 4 sibs won’t even test for it.🤷🏼♀️
Lp(a)?
They want him to wait 6 months and be tested again. Me, my siblings, grandparents all have or had heart disease. Hopefully we can live cleaner lives and marry spouses with out heart disease 🤞😉
700 Ll(a) is very high!
Doctors are not recommending Repatha?
Any past heart or CV issues?
My son recently recorded 700!
He lives in Raleigh. There are a few research projects going on now. It’s genetic so not much you can do about treating it.?
It’s a true marker of heart disease but clean living can help. Get another test done in 6 months