Elevated Lipoprotein-Associated Phospholipase A2 is Associated with Intracranial Atherosclerosis
Abstract BackgroundLipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) is an inflammatory factor in atherosclerotic plaque pathogenesis and is associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke. Whether Lp-PLA2 is associated with the stenosis subtypes in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) has not been investigated. Methods126 eligible AIS patients were divided into four groups 1) no cerebral artery stenosis (NCS); 2) intracranial artery stenosis (ICAS); 3) extracranial artery stenosis (ECAS); and 4) combined intracranial and extracranial artery stenosis (IECS). The associations between serum Lp-PLA2 levels and the stenosis subtypes were statistically assessed. ResultsThe ICAS group had a lower frequency of dyslipidemia as compared with the NCS group and the IECS group (35.3% vs. 70% vs. 71.8%, P=0.001), and was more likely to be symptomatic than the ECAS group (76.5% vs. 43.8%, P=0.014). The Lp-PLA2 level in the ICAS group was 112.2±66.8 μg/L, which was higher than that in the NCS, ECAS and IECS groups (81.7±38.5, 106.1±57.8, 89.3±52.2 μg/L, respectively, P=0.025). In the 3rd and 4th quartiles of Lp-PLA2 level, stenosis occurred more frequently in the ICAS group than in the other three groups (3rd Q: 50.0% vs. 3.1% vs. 28.1% vs. 18.8%, P=0.002; 4th Q: 48.4% vs. 16.1% vs. 25.8% vs. 9.7%, P=0.014). The Lp-PLA2 level was higher in patients with more or severe stenosis in the ICAS group. ConclusionsElevated Lp-PLA2 level was differentially associated with increased risk in AIS patients with ICAS as compared to those with ECAS or no stenosis. Lp-PLA2 is a promising biomarker for ICAS and may be a potential therapeutic target for ICAS.