Lipoprotein(a) and Vascular Regenerative Cell Content
The Lp(a)-VRCE CardioLink-16 Trial

Ischemic cardiovascular disease is caused by poor blood supply to parts of the body. Blood vessels can become narrow when “fatty plaques” build up in the vessel wall resulting in decreased blood flow.  People with increased levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) are at heightened risk for ischemic cardiovascular disease and are typically managed with medications that lower LDL-C levels. Lipoprotein (a) Lp(a) is a type of LDL particle that increases the risk of ischemic cardiovascular disease and can be more harmful than LDL-C. There is currently no approved medication that directly lowers Lp(a) levels. The exact mechanism by which Lp(a) increases the risk of ischemic cardiovascular disease is not fully understood.  Researchers have found that stem cells can grow new blood vessels from existing blood vessels in the body. It has also been found that people at increased risk of cardiovascular disease have decreased levels of these blood stem cells. These stem cells may therefore be the foundation of new strategies to manage ischemic cardiovascular diseases.   The objective of this current study is to determine if there is a difference in the amount of stem cells in the blood between people with increased levels of Lp(a) and people without increased levels of Lp(a). The results of this study was presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2025 and simultaneously published in Cardiovascular Research.