Measurement of lipoprotein(a) levels in real-world clinical and laboratory settings: a single-center experience

RESEARCH LETTER Lp(a) level measurement in real -world clinical and laboratory settings 1 changes in requests for Lp(a) level measurements in a tertiary cardiovascular center. Patients and methodsWe retrospectively assessed all consecutive Lp(a) level measurements performed in a tertiary cardiovascular center, St. John Paul II Hospital in Krakw, Poland, since 2017, when testing on a 24/7 basis became available in accordance with the 2016 European guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention. 8We included measurements performed in hospitalized or ambulatory patients from January 2017 to June 2024.Measurements performed for scientific purposes were excluded.Demographic and clinical data of all patients who underwent Lp(a) level evaluation were retrieved from the hospital database.As this study was part of routine clinical workup, approval of the Bioethical Committee was not required.The indications for Lp(a) level measurements were CAD, ischemic stroke, peripheral arterial disease (PAD), family history of CAD, venous thromboembolism (VTE), AVS, and other conditions (retinal vein occlusion, myocarditis, cerebral venous thrombosis, autoimmune diseases).Serum Lp(a) levels were determined using an immunoturbidimetric assay with an analytical measurement range of 5 to 112 mg/dl (7-240 nmol/l) (Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany).If the Lp(a) levels exceeded the upper limit of the measurement range, a 3 -fold automatic dilution was performed.Lipid profile parameters were analyzed using an enzymatic colorimetric assay (Roche Diagnostics).To determine the LPA gene variant, samples were genotyped using a TaqMan SNP assay (rs3798220,