Clinica Medica, Cattinara Hospital, Department of Medical Surgical and Health Science, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy.
SC Assistenza Farmaceutica, Cattinara Hospital, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Integrata di Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Sep 6;20(18):6721. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20186721.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is still a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, despite all the progress achieved as regards to both prevention and treatment. Having high levels of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease that operates independently. It can increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease even when LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) levels are within the recommended range, which is referred to as residual cardiovascular risk. Lp(a) is an LDL-like particle present in human plasma, in which a large plasminogen-like glycoprotein, apolipoprotein(a) [Apo(a)], is covalently bound to Apo B100 via one disulfide bridge. Apo(a) contains one plasminogen-like kringle V structure, a variable number of plasminogen-like kringle IV structures (types 1-10), and one inactive protease region. There is a large inter-individual variation of plasma concentrations of Lp(a), mainly ascribable to genetic variants in the Lp(a) gene: in the general po-pulation, Lp(a) levels can range from <1 mg/dL to >1000 mg/dL. Concentrations also vary between different ethnicities. Lp(a) has been established as one of the risk factors that play an important role in the development of atherosclerotic plaque. Indeed, high concentrations of Lp(a) have been related to a greater risk of ischemic CVD, aortic valve stenosis, and heart failure. The threshold value has been set at 50 mg/dL, but the risk may increase already at levels above 30 mg/dL. Although there is a well-established and strong link between high Lp(a) levels and coronary as well as cerebrovascular disease, the evidence regarding incident peripheral arterial disease and carotid atherosclerosis is not as conclusive. Because lifestyle changes and standard lipid-lowering treatments, such as statins, niacin, and cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitors, are not highly effective in reducing Lp(a) levels, there is increased interest in developing new drugs that can address this issue. PCSK9 inhibitors seem to be capable of reducing Lp(a) levels by 25-30%. Mipomersen decreases Lp(a) levels by 25-40%, but its use is burdened with important side effects. At the current time, the most effective and tolerated treatment for patients with a high Lp(a) plasma level is apheresis, while antisense oligonucleotides, small interfering RNAs, and microRNAs, which reduce Lp(a) levels by targeting RNA molecules and regulating gene expression as well as protein production levels, are the most widely explored and promising perspectives. The aim of this review is to provide an update on the current state of the art with regard to Lp(a) pathophysiological mechanisms, focusing on the most effective strategies for lowering Lp(a), including new emerging alternative therapies. The purpose of this manuscript is to improve the management of hyperlipoproteinemia(a) in order to achieve better control of the residual cardiovascular risk, which remains unacceptably high.
心血管疾病 (CVD) 仍然是发病率和死亡率的主要原因,尽管在预防和治疗方面都取得了进展。脂蛋白 (a) [Lp(a)] 水平高是心血管疾病的一个独立危险因素。即使 LDL 胆固醇 (LDL-C) 水平在推荐范围内,它也会增加患心血管疾病的风险,这种情况被称为残余心血管风险。Lp(a) 是人类血浆中存在的一种 LDL 样颗粒,其中一种大的纤溶酶原样糖蛋白,载脂蛋白 (a) [Apo(a)] 通过一个二硫键共价结合到 Apo B100 上。Apo(a) 包含一个纤溶酶原样kringle V 结构、可变数量的纤溶酶原样kringle IV 结构(类型 1-10)和一个无活性的蛋白酶区域。血浆 Lp(a) 浓度存在很大的个体间差异,主要归因于 Lp(a) 基因的遗传变异:在一般人群中,Lp(a) 水平可以从 <1 mg/dL 到 >1000 mg/dL 不等。浓度也因种族不同而有所差异。Lp(a) 已被确定为在动脉粥样硬化斑块形成中起重要作用的危险因素之一。事实上,Lp(a) 浓度高与缺血性 CVD、主动脉瓣狭窄和心力衰竭的风险增加有关。阈值设定为 50mg/dL,但风险可能在 30mg/dL 以上就会增加。尽管 Lp(a) 水平与冠状动脉和脑血管疾病之间存在明确且强烈的联系,但关于外周动脉疾病和颈动脉粥样硬化的证据并不那么确凿。由于生活方式的改变和标准的降脂治疗,如他汀类药物、烟酸和胆固醇酯转移蛋白抑制剂,在降低 Lp(a) 水平方面效果并不高,因此人们对开发能够解决这一问题的新药产生了浓厚的兴趣。PCSK9 抑制剂似乎能够降低 25-30%的 Lp(a) 水平。米泊美生可将 Lp(a) 水平降低 25-40%,但其使用存在重要的副作用。目前,对于高 Lp(a) 血浆水平的患者,最有效和耐受的治疗方法是血浆置换,而针对 RNA 分子并调节基因表达以及蛋白质产生水平的反义寡核苷酸、小干扰 RNA 和 microRNAs 降低 Lp(a) 水平的方法是最广泛探索和有前途的方法。本综述的目的是提供关于 Lp(a) 病理生理机制的最新进展,重点介绍降低 Lp(a) 的最有效策略,包括新出现的替代疗法。本文的目的是改善高脂蛋白 (a) 的管理,以更好地控制残余心血管风险,因为残余心血管风险仍然高得不可接受。
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023-9-6
Handb Exp Pharmacol. 2022
JAMA Cardiol. 2022-7-1
Mayo Clin Proc. 2013-11
Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2021-7-8
Cardiovasc Drugs Ther. 2019-12
Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2019-3-7
Clin Res Cardiol Suppl. 2017-3
Circ J. 2020-4-24
Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2025-7-10
Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2025-6-25
J Clin Med. 2025-5-23
N Engl J Med. 2022-11-17
Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2022-11
Eur Heart J. 2022-10-14
Atherosclerosis. 2022-5