Lipoprotein(a) Is Associated with Coronary Plaque Vulnerability and Compensatory Vascular Enlargement: An Intravascular Ultrasound Study
Abstract
AIMS: Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] has emerged as a critical determinant of residual cardiovascular risk. However, its impact on plaque morphology remains underinvestigated. This study aimed to elucidate the relationship between the serum Lp(a) levels, coronary plaque vulnerability, and vascular remodeling characteristics by utilizing intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled 292 consecutive patients with coronary artery disease who underwent IVUS. Target lesions were classified into vulnerable (n = 83) or stable (n = 209) plaque groups based on the IVUS criteria. Multivariate binary logistic regression was performed to identify independent predictors. The morphological parameters were further compared between the high (＞18.8 mg/dL) and low (≤ 18.8 mg/dL) Lp(a) groups. RESULTS: , P = 0.015) than the low Lp(a) group, consistent with compensatory vascular enlargement, although the difference in the remodeling index did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Elevated serum Lp(a) levels are independent predictors of coronary plaque vulnerability. The underlying mechanism involves Lp(a) promoting compensatory vascular enlargement, accompanied by an increased plaque volume. These findings underscore the necessity of Lp(a) screening to identify any residual risk, particularly in patients with effectively controlled low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C).
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BibTeX
@article{jiang2026lipoproteina,
title = {{Lipoprotein(a) Is Associated with Coronary Plaque Vulnerability and Compensatory Vascular Enlargement: An Intravascular Ultrasound Study}},
author = {Yufeng Jiang and Jie Lin and Mingyu Ma and Jiahong Xu and Pujiao Yu and Hairong Wang},
journal = {Journal of Atherosclerosis and Thrombosis},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.5551/jat.66159},
url = {https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jat/33/8/33_66159/_article},
note = {CC BY-NC-SA},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Lipoprotein(a) Is Associated with Coronary Plaque Vulnerability and Compensatory Vascular Enlargement: An Intravascular Ultrasound Study
AU - Yufeng Jiang
AU - Jie Lin
AU - Mingyu Ma
AU - Jiahong Xu
AU - Pujiao Yu
AU - Hairong Wang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/01
JO - Journal of Atherosclerosis and Thrombosis
DO - 10.5551/jat.66159
UR - https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jat/33/8/33_66159/_article
AB - AIMS: Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] has emerged as a critical determinant of residual cardiovascular risk. However, its impact on plaque morphology remains underinvestigated. This study aimed to elucidate the relationship between the serum Lp(a) levels, coronary plaque vulnerability, and vascular remodeling characteristics by utilizing intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled 292 consecutive patients with coronary artery disease who underwent IVUS. Target lesions were classified into vulnerable (n = 83) or stable (n = 209) plaque groups based on the IVUS criteria. Multivariate binary logistic regression was performed to identify independent predictors. The morphological parameters were further compared between the high (＞18.8 mg/dL) and low (≤ 18.8 mg/dL) Lp(a) groups. RESULTS: , P = 0.015) than the low Lp(a) group, consistent with compensatory vascular enlargement, although the difference in the remodeling index did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Elevated serum Lp(a) levels are independent predictors of coronary plaque vulnerability. The underlying mechanism involves Lp(a) promoting compensatory vascular enlargement, accompanied by an increased plaque volume. These findings underscore the necessity of Lp(a) screening to identify any residual risk, particularly in patients with effectively controlled low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C).
SN - 1880-3873
SN - 1340-3478
ER -