Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 mass level is increased in elderly subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Abstract
Objective. Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA 2) is extensively expressed by advanced atherosclerotic lesions and may play a role in plaque instability.
We selected a group of elderly subjects that underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) or balloon angioplasty (BA) and separated them into two groups, diabetic and nondiabetic, to compare the level of Lp-PLA2 mass between them. Methods. 44 patients aged 79.6 +- 5.6 years with symptomatic severe aortic valve stenosis underwent TAVI (n = 35) or BA (n = 9). 21 subjects had confirmed type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Lp-PLA2 mass was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit (USCN Life Science, China) before and 3 days after the procedure. Results.
Lp-PLA2 mass was significantly elevated in this population (1296 +- 358 ng/mL before TAVI; 1413 +- 268 ng/mL before BA) and further increased after TAVI (1604 +- 437 ng/mL, P < 0. 01) or BA (1808 +- 303 ng/mL, P < 0. 01). Lp-PLA2 mass was significantly increased on the diabetic group before these interventions.
Conclusion. Lp-PLA2 may be a novel biomarker for the presence of rupture-prone atherosclerotic lesions in elderly patients.
Levels of Lp-PLA 2 in diabetic patients may accompany the higher amount of small dense LDL particles seen in these subjects. (C) 2014 J. Fortunato et al.