Lipoprotein(a) and Coronary Heart Disease

Abstract

The physiological role of lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]) has yet to be established, though its structure is well known; it is a low density lipoprotein-like particle with structural homology to plasminogen. It is considered to be linked to atherosclerotic vascular disease, associated with atherothrombotic lesions and an acute phase reactant. The purpose of this paper is to review these three aspects of Lp(a), and to discuss recent observations of Lp(a) in the patient with coronary heart disease. Of particular interest is the application of lipoprotein removal.