High cholesterol
LDL cholesterol carries cholesterol into the artery wall, where it builds plaque.
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Tests · Dubai
Lipoprotein(a): the cholesterol test most people never had
Lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), is a cholesterol-carrying particle whose level is mostly set by your genes. A high level raises the risk of heart attack, stroke and narrowing of the aortic valve. European guidance (the EAS consensus and the 2025 ESC/EAS update) suggests measuring it at least once in adult life. Dr Shady Habboush can arrange and explain the test.
Dr Shady HabboushConsultant Interventional Cardiology · Saudi German Hospital Dubai2 min read3 sourcesMedically reviewed against ESC and NHS guidance
01
Who it is for
- Every adult, at least once, as part of a cardiovascular risk assessment
- A personal or family history of early heart disease or stroke
- Heart disease despite a normal cholesterol
- Familial hypercholesterolaemia, or a close relative with high Lp(a)
Risks and alternatives
An Lp(a) result is one part of your risk picture, not a diagnosis. It does not mean you will have a heart attack, and a normal result does not remove other risks.
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How the test works
- 01
A simple blood test, usually taken together with a cholesterol profile.
- 02
Fasting is usually not needed. Your doctor will confirm.
- 03
The result is reported in nmol/L or mg/dL. The two units are not directly interchangeable, because the conversion depends on the laboratory method.
- 04
Because the level is mostly genetic, a single measurement is usually enough.
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Understanding the result
Risk rises with the level. The 2025 ESC/EAS update treats a level above 50 mg/dL (about 105 nmol/L) as a factor that raises cardiovascular risk, and risk begins to rise slightly from about 30 mg/dL.
If your Lp(a) is high, your other risk factors are reviewed and managed more closely, often with a lower LDL target.
Medicines that specifically lower Lp(a) are being tested in large clinical trials. For now, treatment focuses on lowering your overall risk, especially LDL cholesterol, and is discussed with you.
04
Questions about this
What is Lp(a)?
A cholesterol-carrying particle whose level is mostly set by genes. A high level raises the risk of heart attack and stroke.
How often should Lp(a) be tested?
European guidance (ESC/EAS) suggests measuring it at least once in adult life.
Do I need to fast?
Usually not; your doctor will confirm.
If my Lp(a) is high, what then?
Your other risk factors are reviewed and managed more closely, and treatment is discussed with you. Close relatives may also be advised to test.
Can diet or exercise lower Lp(a)?
Not much, because the level is mostly genetic. A healthy lifestyle still lowers your overall risk.
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Related guides
Heart check-up
A heart check-up with a cardiologist combines your history, an examination, an ECG and only the tests you need, followed by a clear explanation of your own risk.
Read the guideCoronary artery disease
Coronary artery disease is narrowing of the heart's arteries by fatty plaque.
Read the guideSources
Medical facts on this page follow the sources below.
- Lipoprotein(a) in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and aortic stenosis: EAS consensus statement. Eur Heart J 2022
- 2025 Focused Update of the 2019 ESC/EAS Guidelines for the management of dyslipidaemias. Eur Heart J 2025
- 2019 ESC/EAS Guidelines for the management of dyslipidaemias. Eur Heart J 2020
Medically reviewed against ESC and NHS guidance · Updated October 2026. General information, not medical advice.
Location and booking
Book a consultation
Appointments are made through Saudi German Hospital Dubai, Hessa Street, Al Barsha 3. Consultations in Arabic, English and German.
- Address
- Hessa Street, Al Barsha 3, Dubai
- Languages
- Arabic, English, German
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