Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 serum levels in patients from different categories of cardiovascular risk

Abstract

To compare levels of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) in blood serum of patients from different cardiovascular risk categories. Patients from Moscow prospective study database (n = 519) were divided into 4 cardiovascular risk categories according to present clinical recommendations (low, moderate, high, very high). Measurement of Lp-PLA2 concentration (mass) was performed using PLAC Test ELISA Kit. Measurement of Lp-PLA2 activity was made using PLAC Test for Lp-PLA2 Activity. Blood serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)), high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and uric acid were also determined. Preliminary analysis showed that associations between Lp-PLA2 mass and activity became more obvious in patients not treated with statins and patients without diabetes mellitus. So patients receiving statins and diabetics were excluded from final analysis. Lp-PLA2 mass and activity were lower in low cardiovascular risk category patients. There were no significant differences in Lp-PLA2 mass and activity between patients from moderate, high and very high risk categories. There was moderate correlation between Lp-PLA2 mass and Lp-PLA2 activity (r = 0.38, p < 0.00001). We did not find any correlation between Lp-PLA2 and hsCRP, Lp(a) levels, but detected moderate correlation between Lp-PLA2 mass and activity and TC, LDL-C. We also found a mild positive correlation between Lp-PLA2 mass and HDL-C levels. There was a positive correlation between Lp-PLA2 activity and TG, uric acid and negative correlation between Lp-PLA2 activity and HDL-C levels. In this group of nondiabetic patients not treated with statins both Lp-PLA2 activity and mass were similarly related to categories of cardiovascular risk.