Berkley Heart Test results

[cat30188]

I just received the results of the Berkley Heart Profile.  My father died of CAD at the age of 46.  My mother had a coronary artery blockage that was repaired at age 75.  I'm a 54 yr. old healthy female non smoker, low BP, 5'5''/128 lb.and live a healthy lifestyle (exercise and diet).  My Lp(a) was 114, very high and a fibrinogen of 475.  I also see that the LDL particles are primarily large.  I plan on a stress test and obtaining a good cardiologist.  I've read that Niacin can lower Lp(a) but may not reduce the risk of CAD.  Is it too soon for a test to determine how much plaque is in my arteries at this point?  Can you give me some sugestions?  I want to feel there is some hope of preventing a heart attack.

Thank you, Cat

[cat30188]

Is a EBCT the scan what you are taking about and does it show all plaque or only calcified plaque?  Can soft plaque cause a blockage as well?

Thank you, Cat

[Douglas Bogart, MD]

You are right that niacin can lower the Lp(a) but whether this will reduce your risk of heart disease is unknown at this point.  I would suggest you have a CT scan for calcium scoring which will help know if you have plaque in your coronaries and if you do then you need aggressive treatment which would clearly include a statin agent --these drugs do reduce the plaque progression and maybe niacin as well.