Lipoprotein (a) is related to coronary atherosclerotic burden and a vulnerable plaque phenotype in angiographically obstructive coronary artery disease

Impact of Lipoprotein (a) on Long-Term Outcomes in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease Treated with Statin After a First Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

“…In a coronary angiographic study among 2769 patients being treated with statins, elevated Lp(a) defined as > 30 mg/dL was associated significantly with the severity of coronary atherosclerosis and a greater risk of CVD events, particularly revascularizations 6 ) . Another recent study evaluated the association between Lp(a) levels and vulnerable plaque phenotype using optical coherence tomography (OCT) 25 ) . Mitsuda T et al reported lipoprotein (a) levels predict adverse vascular events in 176 patients with ST-elevated myocardial infarction during 3-year follow-up after primary PCI 26 ) .…”

Coronary Atherosclerotic Vulnerable Plaque: Current Perspectives

“…However, in the context of atherosclerosis, it assumes 4‐fold deleterious/destabilizing effects by promoting thrombosis, inflammation, cholesterol delivery to atheromas, and smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation. Studies' findings have, foreseeably, associated Lp(a) levels with vulnerable plaque phenotype …”

Lipoprotein(a): An independent, genetic, and causal factor for cardiovascular disease and acute myocardial infarction

“… 70 Patients with high Lp(a) levels develop high-risk vulnerable plaques with complex morphology (heavy macrophage infiltration, large necrotic lipid core, thin fibrous cap, etc) that are prone to rupture. 71 , 72 Large amounts of Lp(a) are detected in culprit lesions of patients with ACS compared with stable angina. 56 , 73 Elevated Lp(a) levels correlate with both presence and severity of ACS.…”