The Riskier Lipid: What Is on the HORIZON for Lipoprotein (a) and Should There Be Lp(a) Screening for All?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Despite widespread targeting of cardiovascular risk factors, many patients continue to experience clinical events. This residual risk has stimulated efforts to develop novel therapeutic approaches to target additional factors underscoring cardiovascular disease. This review aimed to summarize existing evidence supporting targeting of Lp(a) as a novel cardioprotective strategy.

RECENT FINDINGS: Increasing evidence has implicated lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] in the pathogenesis of both atherosclerotic and calcific aortic valve disease. Therapeutic advances have produced novel agents that selectively lower Lp(a) levels, which have now progressed to evaluate their impact on cardiovascular events in large clinical outcome trials. Evidence continues to accumulate suggesting that targeting Lp(a) may be effective in reducing cardiovascular risk. With advances in Lp(a) targeted therapeutics, clinical trials now have the opportunity to determine whether this strategy will be effective for high-risk patients.