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This test identifies individuals who are at risk of having elevated plasma lipoprotein (a) and may have a greater than two-fold risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This risk has been shown to be normalized with low-dose aspirin therapy.
LPA is the gene that codes for apolipoprotein(a) or apo(a), a major protein constituent of lipoprotein(a) or Lp(a). Increased levels of serum Lp(a) > 50 mg/dL are associated with increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. This test determines whether the subject has the LPA variant rs3798220 which causes an amino acid substitution at residue 4399 where isoleucine is replaced by methionine. This variant is found in about 5% of the population, and leads to significant increases in Lp(a) levels, a 2.5 fold increased CVD risk, and significant benefit from receiving 100 mg of aspirin per day (50% risk reduction).
Reference: Chasman DI, Shiffman D, et al. Polymorphism in the apolipoprotein(a) gene, plasma lipoprotein (a), cardiovascular disease, and low-dose aspirin Therapy. Atherosclerosis. 2009;203(2):371-376.
Methodology - Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR)