1. European Heart Journal 2010; 31: 2844-2853

2. Lipoprotein(a) consists of an LDL-like particle to which apolipoprotein(a) is covalently linked.
Lipoprotein(a) consists of an LDL-like particle to which apolipoprotein(a) is covalently linked. The LDL-like moiety is composed of a central core of cholesteryl esters (CE) and triglycerides (TG) surrounded by phospholipids (PL), free cholesterol (FC), and a single molecule of apolipoprotein B (apoB). Apolipoprotein(a) contains 10 different types of plasminogen kringle 4-like repeats as well as regions homologous to the kringle 5 and protease (P) regions of plasminogen. The kringle 4 type 2 domain (42) is present in multiply repeated copies from 2 to >40 that differ in number between apolipoprotein(a) isoforms.1 Apolipoprotein(a) is linked to apolipoprotein B100 by a single disulfide bond involving an unpaired cysteine residue in kringle 4 type 9. Modified from Koschinsky and Marcovina.18
Nordestgaard B G et al. Eur Heart J 2010;31:
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3. Lipoprotein(a) KIV-2 copy number variant: 2 to >40 repeats LDL-like
particle
Lipoprotein(a) may be a causal risk factor. Lipoprotein(a) is a circulating lipid particle secreted by the liver. It consists of what is essentially an LDL-particle bound to a glycoprotein named apolipoprotein(a). Apolipoprotein(a) is structurally very similar to plasminogen and has been shown to interfere with the activation and function of plasminogen.
Considering the structure of lipoprotein(a) it has been hypothesized that lipoprotein(a) may contribute both to the development of atherosclerosis and thrombosis and thereby ischemic heart disease. Elevated levels of lipoprotein(a) are thus suspected to be causally associated with risk of ischemic heart disease.
Apolipoprotein(a) har stor strukturel lighed med plasminogen men har ingen fibrinolytisk aktivitet. Men apo(a) konkurrerer til gengæld med plasminogen, hvad angår binding til fx fibrinogen, fibrin, t-PA, medførende nedsat fibrinolytisk aktivitet og dermed øget thrombosetendens.
apolipo-
protein(a)
Koschinsky et al. Cur Opin Lipidol 2004;15:

4. Typical distributions of lipoprotein(a) levels in the general population.
Typical distributions of lipoprotein(a) levels in the general population. These graphs are based on non-fasting fresh serum samples from ∼3000 men and 3000 women from the Copenhagen General Population Study collected from 2003 through Green colour indicates levels below the 80th percentile, whereas red colour indicates levels above the 80th percentile.
Nordestgaard B G et al. Eur Heart J 2010;31:
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5. Copenhagen General Population Study
Low number of Kringle IV-2 repeats
High number of Kringle IV-2 repeats
Nordestgaard 2010

6. Risk ratios of coronary heart disease, ischaemic stroke and non-vascular death by quantiles of usual lipoprotein(a) levels.
Risk ratios of coronary heart disease, ischaemic stroke and non-vascular death by quantiles of usual lipoprotein(a) levels. CI, confidence interval. Sizes of data markers are proportional to the inverse of the variance of the risk ratios. (A) Adjustment for age and sex only. (B) Further adjustment for systolic blood pressure, smoking status, history of diabetes, body mass index, and total cholesterol. MI, myocardial infarction. Modified from The Emerging Risk Factors Collaboration.3
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7. Emerging Risk Factor Collaboration. JAMA 2009; 302: 412-23

8. Emerging Risk Factor Collaboration. JAMA 2009; 302: 412-23

9. Risk ratios for various vascular and non-vascular endpoints per 3
Risk ratios for various vascular and non-vascular endpoints per 3.5-fold (i.e. 1 SD) higher than usual lipoprotein(a) levels adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors.
Risk ratios for various vascular and non-vascular endpoints per 3.5-fold (i.e. 1 SD) higher than usual lipoprotein(a) levels adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors. MI, myocardial infarction. aSubtotals do not add to the total number of coronary heart disease outcomes because some studies did not subdivide outcomes into coronary death and non-fatal MI. RR, relative risk; CI, confidence interval. Modified from The Emerging Risk Factors Collaboration.3
Nordestgaard B G et al. Eur Heart J 2010;31:
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10. Risk of myocardial infarction by levels of lipoprotein(a) in the general population.
Risk of myocardial infarction by levels of lipoprotein(a) in the general population. Hazard ratios (HRs) are adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors (multivariable) or for these factors as well as kringle IV type 2 (KIV-2) genotype. P-values are test for trend of hazard ratios where lipoprotein(a) groups with increasing levels were coded 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Values are from the 1991–94 examination of the Copenhagen City Heart Study with up to 16 years of follow-up (n= 7524). CI, confidence interval. Modified from Kamstrup et al.2
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11. Copenhagen City Heart Study
Kamstrup et al. JAMA 2009; 301:

12. Mean lipoprotein(a) levels in the Copenhagen City Heart Study as a function of quartiles of apolipoprotein(a) KIV-2 repeats.
Mean lipoprotein(a) levels in the Copenhagen City Heart Study as a function of quartiles of apolipoprotein(a) KIV-2 repeats. P-value is for the Cuzick non-parametric test for trend of mean lipoprotein(a) levels. Participants in the 1991–94 or 2001–03 examination were included (n= 9867). KIV-2, kringle IV type 2. Error bars indicate 95% confidence intervals. Modified from Kamstrup et al.2
Nordestgaard B G et al. Eur Heart J 2010;31:
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13. Risk of myocardial infarction by quartiles of apolipoprotein(a) KIV-2 repeats in the Copenhagen City Heart Study (CCHS), the Copenhagen General Population Study (CGPS), and the Copenhagen Ischemic Heart Disease Study (CIHDS).
Risk of myocardial infarction by quartiles of apolipoprotein(a) KIV-2 repeats in the Copenhagen City Heart Study (CCHS), the Copenhagen General Population Study (CGPS), and the Copenhagen Ischemic Heart Disease Study (CIHDS). P-values are test for trend of risk estimates [hazard ratios (HRs) or odds ratios (ORs)] where kringle IV type 2 (KIV-2) groups with decreasing numbers of KIV-2 repeats were coded 1, 2, 3, and 4. CI, confidence interval (shown as error bars). Modified from Kamstrup et al.2
Nordestgaard B G et al. Eur Heart J 2010;31:
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14. Risk of Myocardial Infarction
Lipoprotein(a)
(mg/dL)
KIV-2
quartile
Hazard ratio
(95% CI) 50 40 30 20 10
1.0
1.5
2.0
1st
2nd
Again we have the lipoprotein(a) plasma concentration as a function of KIV-2 genotype displayed as quartiles of repeats. Only, this time the graph is displayed on its side.
And here we have risk of MI as a function of KIV-2 genotype (and displayed as multifactorially adjusted hazard ratios). We see a stepwise increase in risk of MI with decreasing number of KIV-2 repeats which fits nicely with the concomitant increase in lipoprotein(a) plasma concentrations. Individuals in the lowest quartile of KIV-2 repeats have a 1.5 fold increased risk of MI as compared with individuals in the highest quartile of KIV-2 repeats.
The displayed results are from the CCHS the prospective general population study.
3rd
4th
Trend p<0.001
Trend p<0.001
Trend p<0.001
Kamstrup et al. JAMA 2009; 301:

15. Clarke et al. New Engl J Med 2009; 361: 2518-28

16. Evidence for lipoproteins causing atherothrombotic disease?
LDL
Lp(a)
Epidemiology
Direct association
Genetics FH
Kringle IV-2
Animal models
Watanabe
Transgenic
Mechanism
Aterosclerosis
Aterosclerosis Thrombosis
Intervention
Statins
Niacin/apheresis
Interpretation
Causal
Probably causal
Nordestgaard et al. EAS Consensus Panel. Eur Heart J 2010;31:

17. Whom to screen for Lp(a)
Premature CVD
Familial hypercholesterolemia
Family history premature CVD or Lp(a)
Recurrent CVD despite statins
≥3% 10-year risk of fatal CVD
≥10% 10-year risk of fatal/nonfatal CHD
Nordestgaard et al. EAS Consensus Panel. Eur Heart J 2010;31:

18. Desirable levels in the fasting or nonfasting state
Patients with CVD and/or diabetes
Other patients and individuals
Highest level of evidence for treatment
LDL chole-sterol
<2 mmol/L
(<77 mg/dL)
<3 mmol/L
(<116 mg/dL)
Ia: meta-analysis of randomised, controlled trials of statin treatment
Lp(a)
<80th percentile
(<~50 mg/dL)
Ia: meta-analysis of randomised, controlled trials of niacin treatment
Nordestgaard et al. EAS Consensus Panel. Eur Heart J 2010;31:

19. Copenhagen General Population Study
Desirable levels
Nordestgaard 2010

20. Niacin 1-3 g/day in randomised, controlled trials
CHD Stroke Early death 0%
-10%
-20%
-30%
Bruckert et al. Atherosclerosis 2010; & Coronary Drug Project. JACC 1986;8:

21. High risk patients with Lp(a) >95th percentile
Apheresis added to optimal lipid lowering by drugs reduced Lp(a) 73%
p<0.0001
Jaeger et al. Nat Clin Prac Cardiovasc 2009; 6:
Pre Post Pre Post

22. Treatment of Lp(a) Lifestyle changes minimal effect
Statins to lower LDL-C
Niacin 1-3 g/day lowers
Lp(a) 30-40%
LDL-C
Triglycerides
and raises HDL-C
Possibly apheresis
Nordestgaard et al. EAS Consensus Panel. Eur Heart J 2010;31:

23. Disclosures
This work including Consensus Panel meetings were supported by unrestricted educational grants to the European Atherosclerosis Society from Merck, Kowa, Roche, and AstraZeneca. These companies were not present at the Consensus Panel meetings, had no role in the design or content of the Consensus Statement, and had no right to approve or disapprove of the final document. Funding to pay the Open Access publication charges for this article was provided by funding from the European Atherosclerosis Society.
Nordestgaard et al. EAS Consensus Panel. Eur Heart J 2010;31: