title: Association of serum lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 level with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome and is one of the most common causes of chronic liver disease, worldwide. Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) was recently characterized as a novel inflammatory biomarker that is correlated with several components constituting the metabolic syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, we determined the serum levels of Lp-PLA2 in patients with definite nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH, n=25), borderline NASH (n=22), simple fatty liver (n=10), and healthy controls without evidence of liver disease (n=38). The levels of Lp-PLA2 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and compared in the four study groups. Moreover, concentrations of Lp-PLA2 were assessed in relation to the general characteristics of the study participants and the results of liver biopsy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Concentrations of Lp-PLA2 were significantly higher in patients with definite NASH (161.8±0.9 μg/L, P<0.001), borderline NASH (135.4±47.7 μg/L, P=0.001), and simple fatty liver (132.4±46.2 μg/L, P=0.042) compared with healthy controls (86.2±40.7 μg/L). Furthermore, the serum Lp-PLA2 level was strongly associated to histological steatosis scores in patients with NAFLD (β=0.32, t=2.50, P=0.016).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although subject to future confirmation, our data suggest that Lp-PLA2 levels are elevated in NAFLD.
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, Istanbul Goztepe Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. dryasarcolak@yahoo.com
authors: Yasar
authors: Y
authors: Colak
authors: Ebubekir
authors: E
authors: Senates
authors: Oguzhan
authors: O
authors: Ozturk
authors: Hamdi Levent
authors: HL
authors: Doganay
authors: Ender
authors: E
authors: Coskunpinar
authors: Yasemin Musteri
authors: YM
authors: Oltulu
authors: Ayse
authors: A
authors: Eren
authors: Onder
authors: O
authors: Sahin
authors: Seyma
authors: S
authors: Ozkanli
authors: Feruze Yilmaz
authors: FY
authors: Enc
authors: Celal
authors: C
authors: Ulasoglu
authors: Ilyas
authors: I
authors: Tuncer
mesh_terms: D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D001706:Biopsy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase