Influence of race and sex on lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 levels: observations from the Dallas Heart Study.
OBJECTIVE
Most lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) studies included mainly white men. We sought to determine whether Lp-PLA2 levels differ according to race and sex.


METHODS
Lp-PLA2 mass and activity were measured in 3332 subjects age 30-65 participating in the Dallas Heart Study, a multiethnic, population-based, probability sample. Lp-PLA2 levels were compared between different race and sex groups.


RESULTS
Mean age was 45+/-9 years and 44% were men; 30% were white, 17% hispanic, and 53% black. Mean Lp-PLA2 activity and mass were 146+/-40 nmol/min/mL and 191+/-60 ng/mL, respectively. Lp-PLA2 activity was lower in women compared with men (134+/-35 vs. 161+/-40, p=0.001) and was lowest in black (136+/-38), intermediate in hispanic (151+/-36), and highest in white subjects (161+/-39) (trend p=0.0001). In multivariable linear regression models, after adjusting for age, body mass index (BMI), smoking, total, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglycerides and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), Lp-PLA2 activity was 19 nmol/min/mL higher in men vs. women (p<0.001); compared with black subjects, adjusted Lp-PLA2 activity was 11 and 20 nmol/min/mL higher in white and hispanic subjects, respectively (both p<0.001). Similar race and sex differences were observed for Lp-PLA2 mass.


CONCLUSIONS
Race and sex independently influence Lp-PLA2 activity and mass. Thresholds to define Lp-PLA2 elevation may need to be sex and race specific.
The Donald W. Reynolds Cardiovascular Clinical Research Center at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, TX, United States. emmanouil.brilakis@utsouthwestern.edu
Emmanouil S
ES
Brilakis
Amit
A
Khera
Darren K
DK
McGuire
Raphael
R
See
Subhash
S
Banerjee
Sabina A
SA
Murphy
James A
JA
de Lemos
D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000378:metabolism; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001741:Black or African American
D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase