Lysophosphatidic acid and apolipoprotein A1 predict increased risk of developing World Trade Center-lung injury: a nested case-control study

RATIONALE: Metabolic syndrome, inflammatory and vascular injury markers measured in serum after World Trade Center (WTC) exposures predict abnormal FEV1. We hypothesized that elevated LPA levels predict FEV₁ < LLN. METHODS: Nested case-control study of WTC-exposed firefighters. Cases had FEV₁ < LLN. Controls derived from the baseline cohort. Demographics, pulmonary function, serum lipids, LPA and ApoA1 were measured. RESULTS: LPA and ApoA1 levels were higher in cases than controls and predictive of case status. LPA increased the odds by 13% while ApoA1 increased the odds by 29% of an FEV₁ < LLN in a multivariable model. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated LPA and ApoA1 are predictive of a significantly increased risk of developing an FEV₁ < LLN.