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Lipoprotein a which is symbolised by Lp(a), Lipoprotein Structure looks like the structure of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), LDL is made up of cholesterol, cholesteryl ester (CE) molecules, along with small amounts of triglycerides (TG) and fat, and a specific protein called apolipoprotein A, Lipoprotein(a) plays an important role in the progression of coronary artery disease. Coronary artery disease Coronary artery disease is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, characterised by narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries due to atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a complex process characterised by the accumulation of low-density lipids, inflammatory cells and fibrous elements in the arterial walls, resulting in plaques that can restrict and block blood flow pathways which is causing ischemic heart disease and heart failure. As numerous case-control studies dating back to the 1970s identified elevated Lp(a) (>30 mg/dl; >75 nmol/L) in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients, the contribution of Lp(a) to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk remained unclear until many decades later. In three landmark studies published in 2009, Lp(a) was shown to be an independent and casual risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) [1,2]. Lipoprotein(a) levels vary greatly among individuals and among ethnicities. Levels vary from less than 0.1 mg/dL and up to more than 300 mg/dL in Europeans, and the distribution has a long tail towards high levels. In Africans, plasma lipoprotein(a) levels are as much as threefold higher than in Europeans and Asians, and even up to four times higher that in Chinese [3].
Keywords:Atherosclerotic disease, Lipoprotein (a), Lipid metabolism, Calcific aortic valvular disease, Cardiovascular disease.
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