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Lipoprotein a and aortic dilations
When I was first diagnosed, everyone in this forum took the time to be very kind and helpful. I wanted to share some research I discovered that could impact your care.
According to the Journal of EchoCardiography, a research study was conducted that showed an association between elevated Lp(a) and the dilation of the Aorta in people with high blood pressure. The higher the Lp(a) the greater the diameter or enlargement of the Aorta.
Unfortunately, the treatment of a high Lp(a) is limited at this time but medications to treat this highly atherosclerotic genetic disorder are on the horizon.
Please make sure your doctor has ordered this important lab so you can have a full picture of your health and the possible impact on the size of your Aorta.
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Lp(a) is something you from the first year of your life and constant after that so this is interesting.
If it wasn't for my Lp(a), my AA might not have been found. Got the blood test because my blood pressure was always low, my cholesterol mostly good but triglycerides where all over the place. So they recommend a drug to go on and I wasn't sure. As part of the prescreening they had me do a CT and bam...my AA journey began.
Makes me wonder how much Lp(a) might actually play in AA risk.
That’s interesting. My husband has elevated LP(a)… never knew there might be a connection.
My husband also has an elevated lp(a). He is on Repatha. He also has an aneurysm that seems to be stable at 4.9 cm. (The aneurysm was first seen in 2007 and measured 4.3 on a CT - and it was considered "okay" for his height and weight. I will never understand this.)
Fast forward to 2021 and it was measured at 4.8-4.9. A new cardiologist that ordered an echo found the aneurysm. What a shocker. We had paid no attention to the 4.3 cm on the 2007 CT scan - we did not remember it and have no idea why that CT was done.
Lp(a), of course, forms plaques in the arteries resulting in more stress for the heart and the aorta to circulate and plump that blood. Lp(a) was found in 2003 but outside of that being on the lab sheet, his cardiologist never breathed a word about the implications. Unbelievable.
There appears to be a family history of aneurysms. A first cousin had a mid level aortic aneurysm that dissected. He died but was resuscitated. An additional descending aneurysm at 5.0 has been found and there are also aneurysms now in his groin. This cousin's father had some sort of aneurysm that dissected; he died from it. His sister, my husband's mother, died of strokes in her brain. She had large cell vasculitis - giant cell arteritis.
My husband appears to have no vasculitis on PET scans. He went through the genetic testing and no issues were found. However, the genetic testing basically seems to screen for Marfans syndrome. He also had an intensive physical and no connective tissue disorders were found.
My husband's doctors have urged us to have all first degree relatives screened for lp(a) and also aortic aneurysms. We have sent the information but no one seems to take heed. Their doctors are totally apathetic and unaware.