Abstract
Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is a well recognised contributor in the development of cardiovascular disease. Unlike other lipoproteins, Lp(a) levels are primarily genetically determined, and in most individuals remain largely stable throughout life. Elevated Lp(a) is common in the general population, and various international guidelines now recommend at least one lifetime measurement of Lp(a) and its inclusion into an individual's cardiovascular risk assessment. Despite this, Lp(a) is still rarely measured, even in patients with known cardiovascular risk factors. Critically, the therapeutic landscape for Lp(a)-lowering medications is rapidly evolving with multiple drugs showing considerable promise in late-stage clinical trials. The strength and consistency of the evidence now cement Lp(a) as an essential biomarker of cardiovascular health. Failure to incorporate measurement of Lp(a) into clinical practice will continue to underestimate an individual's risk of CVD. Now is the time for Lp(a) to move from a neglected biomarker to a widely known and measured essential component of cardiovascular risk assessment.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 1710557 |
| Pages (from-to) | 1-7 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine |
| Volume | 12 |
| Early online date | 9 Jan 2026 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published online - 9 Jan 2026 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:2026 Irvine, Watt, Kurth, Mooney, Clark-McKellar, Keteepe-Arachi, Lamont, Dowey, Fitzgerald and Ruddock.
Data Access Statement
The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will bemade available by the authors, without undue reservation.
Funding
The author(s) declared that financial support was not received for this work and/or its publication.
Keywords
- screening
- stroke
- cardiovascular disease
- Lipoprotein(a)
- QRISK3
- atherosclerosis
- Lp(a)
- risk assessment
- Stroke
- Qrisk3
- Cardiovascular disease
- Screening
- Atherosclerosis
