Lp-PLA2 (LIPOPROTEIN ASSOCIATED PHOSPHOLIPASE A2) ACTIVITY

LP-PLA2 IS AN INFLAMMATORY PROTEIN PRODUCED IN THE VASCULAR INTIMA AND IS EXPRESSED IN GREATER CONCENTRATION IN ADVANCED ATHEROSCLEROTIC LESIONS THAN IN EARLY STAGE LESIONS. THUS ITS MEASUREMENT COULD CONTRIBUTE TO THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE PATIENTS WITH RUPTURE PRONE PLAQUES. LP-PLA2 HAS DEMONSTRATED SUBSTANTIALLY LESS VARIABILITY THAN HSCRP & IS NOT ELEVATED IN SYSTEMIC INFLAMMATORY CONDITIONS. IT APPEARS TO BE A MORE SPECIFIC MARKER OF VASCULAR INFLAMMATION. ELEVATED BASELINE LEVELS OF LP-PLA2 HAVE BEEN CORRELATED WITH INCREASED CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE (CVD) EVENT RISK. THE RISK PREDICTION REMAINS SIGNIFICANT EVEN AFTER ADJUSTMENT FOR CVD RISK FACTORS.