Association between serum level of secretory type II phospholipase A2 and atherosclerosis in elderly patients with metabolic syndrome

Abstract

Objective To investigate the association between serum level of secretory type Ⅱ phospholipase A2 (sPLA2 Ⅱa) and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in elderly patients with metabolic syndrome (MS). Methods A total of 124 consecutive MS patients aged over 65 years were enrolled and another 90 elderly non-MS subjects were served as controls. The serum concentration of sPLA2Ⅱa was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Blood pressure, blood lipids and blood glucose levels etc. were also measured. The carotid intima-media thickness was examined by color Doppler ultrasonography. Results Serum level of sPLA2 Ⅱa was significantly higher in elderly MS patients than in control group 〔(4.41±1.55)μg/L vs.(2.39±0.97)μg/L, P<0.05〕. Compared with the control group, elderly MS patients showed CIMT was significantly increased 〔(1.17±0.24) mm vs.(0.89±0.24)mm, P<0.05〕. Serum level of sPLA2 Ⅱa were higher in elderly obesity patients than in normal BMI subjects 〔(4.76±0.99)μg/L vs.(2.84±0.54)μg/L, P<0.05〕. Multiple regression analysis indicated that sPLA2 Ⅱa level was an independent risk factor for CIMT in elderly MS patients after adjusting for the effects of BMI, IL-6 and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs CRP) on CIMT(r=0.38, P<0.01). Conclusions Serum level of sPLA2 Ⅱa is increased in elderly MS patients and is independently correlated with CIMT, which has a predictive value for atherosclerosis. sPLA2 Ⅱa may be involved in the process of vascular endothelial injury. Key words: Metabolic syndrome X; Atherosclerosis; Phospholipase A2, secretory; C-reactive protein