The role of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 on cardiovascular disease risk assessment and plaque rupture: a clinical review

Abstract During the last several last decades, reduction in lipids has been the main focus to decrease the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). Several lines of evidence, however, have indicated that lipids account only for the 2 (Lp-PLA 2 ) is a novel inflammatory biomarker that can provide much needed information about plaque inflammation and plaque stability. Lp-PLA 2 is among the multiple biomarkers that have been associated with increased CHD risk. In this present work, we review the evidence from previous studies addressing the effect of different therapies on decreasing Lp-PLA 2 and the role of direct Lp-PLA 2 inhibitors. This work also briefly reviews the evidence of Lp-PLA 2 clinical utility as a potential marker of vascular inflammation and formation of rupture prone plaques. Additionally, we also discuss the implication of available evidence in context of current cardiovascular inflammatory biomarkers recommendations and the evidence from epidemiologic studies addressing the relationship of Lp-PLA 2 and risk of cardiovascular disease.