Lp(a)
Abbreviation with 3 meanings
| Stands for | Lipoprotein(a) |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 3 |
| Categories | Medical, Law & Legal |
| Also written | LPA |
Lp(a) has three meanings. The most common are Lipoprotein(a) (cardiology) and Lasting power of attorney (estate and family law); it can also stand for Limited partnership agreement.
Meanings of Lp(a) at a glance
| # | Lp(a) stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lipoprotein(a) | Medical › Cardiology |
| 2 | Lasting power of attorney | Law & Legal › Estate and Family Law |
| 3 | Limited partnership agreement | Law & Legal › Contract |
1. Lipoprotein(a)
Medical · Cardiology Abbreviations
Genetically determined LDL-like particle carrying an extra protein, apolipoprotein(a), that promotes atherosclerosis, inflammation and clotting. Levels above about 50 mg/dL (125 nmol/L), found in roughly one in five people, raise the risk of heart attack, stroke and aortic stenosis.
Example: Lp(a) 210 nmol/L in a 45-year-old with premature MI; first-degree relatives advised to be tested.
Levels are set mostly by genes and barely change with diet or exercise, so many guidelines advise measuring Lp(a) at least once in adulthood. Statins do not lower it and PCSK9 inhibitors reduce it modestly; drugs designed specifically to lower it, such as pelacarsen and olpasiran, have entered large cardiovascular outcome trials. Pronounced "L-P-little-a."
2. Lasting power of attorney (LPA)
Law & Legal · Estate and Family Law Abbreviations
Legal document in England and Wales that lets a person, the donor, appoint attorneys to make decisions if they lose mental capacity. There are two types: property and financial affairs, and health and welfare.
Example: My mother registered her LPA with the Office of the Public Guardian so we can manage her accounts.
Introduced by the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and available from October 2007, replacing enduring powers of attorney. An LPA must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian before use. A health and welfare LPA works only when the donor lacks capacity, while a financial one can be used earlier with consent. In private equity, LPA means limited partnership agreement.
3. Limited partnership agreement (LPA)
Law & Legal · Contract Abbreviations
Governing contract of a limited partnership, most often a private equity, venture capital or hedge fund, that sets out the rights of the general partner, which manages the fund, and the limited partners, who invest. It covers capital commitments, distributions, management fees, carried interest, fund term and investor protections.
Example: The LPA caps the management fee at 2 percent of committed capital during the investment period.
Large investors often negotiate side letters granting terms beyond the LPA, such as fee discounts or extra reporting, frequently backed by most-favored-nation clauses. The Institutional Limited Partners Association publishes principles aimed at standardizing terms. In England and Wales, LPA also means lasting power of attorney.
Related abbreviations
More cardiology abbreviations
- LCx – Left circumflex artery
- LHC – Left heart catheterization
- LIMA – Left internal mammary artery
- LM – Left main coronary artery
- LQTS – Long QT syndrome
- LV – Left ventricle
- LVAD – Left ventricular assist device
- LVEDP – Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure
See all 229 cardiology abbreviations →
More estate and family law abbreviations
- IDGT – Intentionally defective grantor trust
- ILIT – Irrevocable life insurance trust
- JDR – Juvenile and domestic relations district court
- JTWROS – Joint tenants with right of survivorship
- MSA – Marital settlement agreement
- PFA – Protection from abuse order
- PINS – Person in need of supervision
- POA – Power of attorney
See all 50 estate and family law abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical or legal advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.