Phospholipase A2 in patients with noncardioembolic ischemic stroke and severe inflammatory reaction.

The inflammatory reaction is characterized by increased circulatory levels of various indicators of the severity of inflammation. The objective was to investigate the value of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) in patients with noncardioembolic ischemic stroke and severe proinflammatory reaction. There were investigated prospectively Lp-PLA2 levels in sera from 47 patients with ischemic stroke and severe inflammatory reaction (32 men and 15 women, mean age 63 +/- 4.23 years) as compared to 38 patients with ischemic stroke without inflammatory reaction (21 men and 17 women, mean age 61 +/- 5.52 years) and 114 healthy elderly controls. Lp-PLA2 levels were assessed using the diaDexus PLAC test (a noncompetitive ELISA). Out of 47 patients with ischemic stroke and severe inflammatory reaction 36 presented Lp-PLA2 high levels (79%). Lp-PLA2 was detected with high levels in 17 out of 30 patients with ischemic stroke without inflammatory reaction (45%). Patients with ischemic stroke and severe inflammatory reaction presented Lp-PLA2 with high levels more frequently than the healthy controls (RR 12.1 [95% CI. 6.22 to 19.333], p<0.0001). Levels of Lp-PLA2 were higher in subjects who experienced a stroke as compared to controls. Lp-PLA2 is a strong predictor of recurrent stroke risk and of increased risk of dying. The determination of Lp-PLA2 should be used to predict patient risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke; it does provide additional risk of inflammation when used in conjunction with the traditional markers. Lp-PLA2 might be used not only for risk stratification of stroke patients, but also as target for treatment.