You May Have a Dangerous Type of Cholesterol Even if Your Tests Look Normal

Lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), is a largely inherited cholesterol particle that can raise heart attack and stroke risk.

It is not measured in routine cholesterol tests, so some people with “normal” numbers may still have hidden cardiovascular risk.

Lp(a) levels are mainly driven by the LPA gene and are less affected by diet or standard treatments like statins.

Researchers are developing targeted therapies, including gene-silencing drugs, to lower Lp(a) production and reduce risk.