Journal of Turkish Clinical Biochemistry

The official publication of Turkish Clinical Biochemistry Association

Diamond OA
No APCs
First Decision
30 Days
Indexed In
TR Dizin

Repeated Lipoprotein(a) Testing: Frequency, Risk Reclassification, and Clinical Impact

1 Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Eskişehir, Türkiye

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of repeat lipoprotein(a) testing, determine whether repeated measurements changed risk classification, assess the clinical significance of observed changes using the reference change value, and investigate whether the interval between measurements was associated with the magnitude of change.

Methods: In this single-center, retrospective, observational study, laboratory records of 706 patients who had at least one lipoprotein(a) measurement between 01.12.2024 and 01.12.2025 at a tertiary care university hospital were reviewed. In patients with repeated measurements, the first and last results were compared, changes in risk classification were evaluated, and clinical significance was assessed using the reference change value.

Results: Among 706 patients, 148 (21.0%) had repeated measurements. In this subgroup, the last lipoprotein(a) level was significantly lower than the first measurement. However, 92.6% of patients remained in the same risk category, while 6.8% were reclassified to a lower risk category and 0.7% to a higher risk category. The proportions of patients remaining in the same category were 99.0%, 68.8%, and 82.1% in the low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups, respectively. In 106 paired measurements eligible for percentage-change analysis, a significant positive relationship was found between the interval between measurements and absolute percentage change. However, no patient exceeded the calculated reference change value of 58.7%.

Conclusion: Repeat lipoprotein(a) testing is uncommon in routine clinical practice. Since it does not provide clinically meaningful additional information in most patients, a single measurement appears to be sufficient for most individuals. Repeat testing may be considered only in selected patients with values close to clinical decision thresholds.

Citation

Işıklar, Özben Özden, Cansu Manav, Evin Kocatürk, Hüseyin Kayadibi, and İbrahim Özkan Alataş. 2026. “Repeated Lipoprotein(a) Testing: Frequency, Risk Reclassification, and Clinical Impact”. Journal of Turkish Clinical Biochemistry 24 (1):7-11. https://doi.org/10.65717/jtcb.2026.260013.

Publish with JTCB

Diamond Open Access

Fully Diamond OA with no APCs and no submission fees. Your research is freely available to readers worldwide from the day it publishes.

30-Day First Decision

Double-blind peer review from an active editorial team returns a first decision in about 30 days, keeping your manuscript moving.

Global Platform

Backed by the Turkish Clinical Biochemistry Association, JTCB welcomes submissions from researchers worldwide and reaches an international laboratory audience.

Focused Laboratory Scope

Method validation, analyzer comparisons, reference intervals, quality indicators, preanalytical studies, and instructive clinical case reports.

Credible and Discoverable

All manuscripts publish in English and follow ICMJE and COPE guidelines, with Crossref DOIs and TR Dizin indexing ensuring global discoverability.