Increasing PAF-AH activity was independently associated with angiographic coronary artery disease (OR 1.39; 95% CI 1.26 to 1.54; P<0.001) after adjusting for cardiovascular drug use.
Case-Control (n=3,148)
Is platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) activity associated with angiographic coronary artery disease independently of systemic inflammation and other risk factors?
PAF-AH activity is independently associated with angiographic coronary artery disease, complementary to sCRP and independent of LDL cholesterol, though it is affected by several cardiovascular medications.
Effect estimate: OR 1.39 (95% CI 1.26 to 1.54)
p-value: p=<0.001
BACKGROUND: Platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH), also denoted as lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2, is a lipoprotein-bound enzyme that is possibly involved in inflammation and atherosclerosis. This study investigates the relationship of PAF-AH activity to angiographic coronary artery disease (CAD), the use of cardiovascular drugs, and other established risk factors. METHODS AND RESULTS: PAF-AH activity, lipoproteins, sensitive C-reactive protein (sCRP), fibrinogen, serum amyloid A, and white blood cell count were determined in 2454 subjects with angiographically confirmed CAD and in 694 control subjects. PAF-AH activity was highly correlated with LDL cholesterol (r=0.517), apolipoprotein B (r=0.644), and non-HDL cholesterol (r=0.648) but not with sCRP or fibrinogen. PAF-AH activity was lower in women than in men and was affected by the intake of lipid-lowering drugs (-12%; P<0.001), aspirin (-6%; P<0.001), beta-blockers (-6%; P<0.001), and digitalis (+7%; P<0.001). Unlike sCRP, fibrinogen, and serum amyloid A, PAF-AH activity was not elevated in unstable angina, non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction, or ST-elevation myocardial infarction. When nonusers of lipid-lowering drugs were examined, PAF-AH activity was associated with the severity of CAD and the number of coronary vessels with significant stenoses. In individuals not taking lipid-lowering drugs and after adjustment for use of aspirin, beta-blocker, and digitalis, the odds ratio for CAD associated with increasing PAF-AH activity was 1.39 (95% CI 1.26 to 1.54, P<0.001), a finding that was robust against further adjustments. CONCLUSIONS: PAF-AH activity is not an indicator of the systemic inflammation that accompanies acute coronary syndromes. PAF-AH activity is affected by a number of cardiovascular drugs; however, after such medication use was accounted for, PAF-AH activity was associated with angiographic CAD, complementary to sCRP and independently of established risk factors such as LDL cholesterol.
Winkler et al. (Tue,) conducted a case-control in Coronary artery disease (n=3,148). Platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) activity vs. Control subjects was evaluated on Angiographic coronary artery disease (OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.26 to 1.54, p=<0.001). Increasing PAF-AH activity was independently associated with angiographic coronary artery disease (OR 1.39; 95% CI 1.26 to 1.54; P<0.001) after adjusting for cardiovascular drug use.