Lipoprotein-a or Lp (a) is a type of fat that can build up in the blood vessels and increase a person’s risk for cardiovascular disease. It is similar in structure to LDL, and more prone to contribute to plaque. A person’s level is typically genetically determined so it is not affected by lifestyle changes and most medications. A person with elevated Lp (a) levels is usually advised to take extra care in managing other more controllable risk factors for heart disease.
About 20-30% of people have elevated levels of Lp(a). High Lipoprotein A is usually inherited from at least one parent.
You can see in this image how Lp(a) is a subfaction of LDL. Here is an article about the different classifications of lipoproteins.
