Lp-PLA₂ as a Marker of Cardiovascular Diseases

Inflammation lies at the base of endothelial dysfunction, eventually leading to plaque formation. The degree of inflammation defines the “vulnerability” of plaque to rupture. Numerous strategies have been adopted to identify and eventually treat high-risk vulnerable plaque. Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A₂ (Lp-PLA₂) has emerged as one such candidate marker of inflammation that may play a direct role in the formation of rupture-prone plaque. Epidemiologic studies have clearly demonstrated the prognostic ability of increased Lp-PLA₂ levels and their association with increased risk of future coronary and cerebrovascular events. Moreover, Lp-PLA₂ might have similar predictive power for both incident coronary heart disease in initially healthy individuals as well as for recurrent events in those with clinically manifest atherosclerosis. The latest evidence has also suggested its incremental value for risk determination over the well-established traditional risk factors and biomarkers in patients with congestive heart failure. These data support an integral role of Lp-PLA₂ activity in lipid peroxidation and cardiovascular risk assessment. This review summarizes the current body of evidence supporting the clinical utility of Lp-PLA₂ and its future applications in cardiovascular medicine.