title: Endothelial Lipase Plasma Levels are Increased in Patients With Significant Carotid Artery Stenosis and History of Neurological Impairment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Endothelial lipase (EL) is a phospholipase expressed predominantly by vascular endothelial cells. The goal of the present study was to examine whether EL plasma levels in patients with carotid artery stenosis differ between those with previous history of neurological impairment and those without neurological symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  EL plasma levels were measured by a competitive ELISA assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  EL plasma levels were significantly higher in the symptomatic, compared with the asymptomatic group (mean 489.61 ± 145 ng/ml (n = 31) vs. 388.39 ± 133 ng/ml (n = 24), t-test, P = 0.011).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We concluded that increased EL plasma levels reflect the patients' overall susceptibility for cerebrovascular events.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Atherosclerosis; Carotid artery stenosis; Endothelial lipase; Neurological impairment; Carotid endarterectomy.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Center of Molecular Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Riederer
authors.forename: Matias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trbušić
authors.forename: Vesna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Degoricija
authors.forename: Saša
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Frank