(June 9, 2009 - Insidermedicine) Increased blood levels of lipoprotein(a) have been directly linked with an increased risk for heart attack in a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Here is some information about lipoprotein(a):

•    It is a particle of LDL or "bad" cholesterol that has a specific protein known as "apolipoprotein(a)" attached to it.

•    The addition of apolipoprotein(a) to LDL cholesterol helps it invade the walls of blood vessels, leading to atherosclerosis.

•    While statin drugs can lower LDL cholesterol levels, they have not been shown to reduce lipoprotein(a)

Researchers from Copenhagen University Hospital used data from over 40,000 patients to look at the association between blood levels of lipoprotein(a), a gene known as KIV-2 that affects blood levels of lipoprotein(a), and the risk of having a heart attack.

In all three studies, both increasing blood levels of lipoprotein(a) and the presence of gene variations that promote higher blood levels of lipoprotein(a) were associated with an increased risk for heart attack.

We had a chance to speak with Dr. Borge Nordestgaard, one of the authors of this study, who offered some further insight.

Today's research suggests that high blood levels of lipoprotein(a) may directly increase the risk of having a heart attack, making it a good target for drug treatment.

For Insidermedicine in Depth, I'm Dr. Susan Sharma.