Lipoprotein-Associated Phospholipase A 2 Predicts Future Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Coronary Heart Disease Independently of Traditional Risk Factors, Markers of Inflammation, Renal Function, and Hemodynamic Stress

OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate whether lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2), an emerging marker of cardiovascular risk, is associated with prognosis in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). METHODS AND RESULTS: Plasma concentrations and activity of Lp-PLA2 were determined in 1051 patients aged 30 to 70 years with CHD who were followed for 95% CI, 1.10 to 3.96; activity: 1.81; 95% CI, 0.94 to 3.49, respectively), but the latter was no longer statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Increased concentrations of Lp-PLA2 predict future cardiovascular events in patients with manifest CHD independent of a variety of potential risk factors including markers of inflammation, renal function, and hemodynamic stress.