title: Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A(2) (Lp-PLA(2)) in acute coronary syndrome: relationship with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) might play a role in the formation of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques. Its plasma distribution and mass in subjects with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) has yet to be characterized.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared plasma levels of Lp-PLA2 in 24 patients within 48 hours of an ACS (acute) and 12 weeks after (recovery), in 26 patients with stable coronary artery disease and in 10 normal healthy control subjects. Lp-PLA2 mass was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ACS patients (mean age 57 ± 8.7 years) had high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels of 30.46 ± 57.57 mg/L (ACS acute) vs 1.69 ± 1.32 mg/L (ACS recovery). Plasma Lp-PLA2 levels were significantly higher in ACS acute subjects than in ACS recovery subjects (143.13 ± 60.88 ng/mL vs 88.74 ± 39.12 ng/mL; P < 0.0001). Interestingly, stable coronary artery disease patients had higher Lp-PLA2 levels than ACS recovery patients (121.72 ± 31.11 ng/mL vs 88.74 ± 39.12 ng/mL; P = 0.0018). There was a strong correlation between Lp-PLA2 and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (LDL-C) (r = 0.709; P < 0.0001) or changes in LDL (r = 0.449; P = 0.027), suggesting that the major determinant of plasma Lp-PLA2 is LDL-C. No significant correlations were observed between Lp-PLA2 and hsCRP or high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. When separated using high-performance liquid chromatography, > 65%-70% of Lp-PLA2 mass was within the apolipoprotein B-containing lipoprotein fraction, with approximately 30%-35% on HDL fraction, with no significant change in distribution between ACS acute and recovery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Subjects with an ACS have markedly increased Lp-PLA2 levels acutely related to LDL-C levels.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Laboratories, Cardiology Division, Royal Victoria Hospital, McGill University/McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Québec, Canada; Programme de Sciences Biomédicales, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Bashar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jabor
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ruel
authors.forename: Anouar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hafiane
authors.forename: Walid
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mourad
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Genest
mesh_terms: D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase / Q000097:blood*; D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011792:Quebec; D012016:Reference Values; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase