All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Lipoprotein (a) in serum
Medical expert of the article
Last reviewed: 05.07.2025
Reference values (norm) for lipoprotein (a) [LP(a)] content in blood serum are 0-30 mg/dl.
Lipoprotein (a) consists of apo(a), which is a glycoprotein in nature and is covalently linked to apo-B 100. Lipoprotein (a) has significant structural similarity to plasminogen. LP(a) is larger than LDL, but has a higher density compared to them and has the electrophoretic mobility of pre-β-LP. In lipid composition, lipoprotein (a) does not differ from LDL, but LP(a) has more protein. Lipoprotein (a) is synthesized in the liver. All modern immunochemical methods for determining lipoprotein (a) actually detect a protein - apo(a).
Determination of lipoprotein (a) is a test for assessing the activity of the atherosclerotic process. Its content in the blood correlates with the area of atheromatous lesion of the aorta, the level of hyperglycemia, blood clotting time and markers of renal excretory function insufficiency. Arterial hypertension in atherosclerosis is often combined with an increase in the concentration of lipoprotein (a) in the blood.
The concentration of Lp(a) in the blood is genetically determined, and there are currently no drugs that reduce it. In this regard, the only treatment strategy for patients with elevated lipoprotein (a) concentrations is the elimination of all other risk factors for coronary heart disease (smoking, excess body weight, arterial hypertension, high LDL concentrations).
Currently, a clear correlation has been established between the concentration of total cholesterol in the blood and mortality from cardiovascular diseases. When the cholesterol content in the blood is below 200 mg / dl (5.2 mmol / l), the risk of developing atherosclerosis is the lowest. If the concentration of LDL-C in the blood is below 100 mg / dl (2.59 mmol / l), heart disease occurs very rarely. An increase in LDL-C above 100 mg / dl is noted when eating foods rich in animal fats and cholesterol. Poor nutrition, smoking and arterial hypertension are synergistically acting factors that increase the risk of coronary heart disease. The combination of one of these factors with any other accelerates the development of critical coronary atherosclerosis by about 10 years. A decrease in the concentration of total cholesterol in the blood and an increase in HDL-C reduces the rate of progression of atherosclerosis. A 10% decrease in total blood cholesterol reduces the risk of heart disease mortality by 20%. An increase in HDL-C by 1 mg/dL (0.03 mmol/L) reduces the risk of coronary heart disease by 2-3% in men and women. In addition, regardless of the total blood cholesterol level (including that exceeding 5.2 mmol/L), there is an inverse relationship between HDL-C and the incidence of heart disease. HDL-C (less than 1.3 mmol/L) and triglyceride concentrations in the blood are independent predictors of the likelihood of death from coronary heart disease. Therefore, HDL-C should be considered a more accurate predictor of coronary heart disease mortality than total cholesterol.
[