Elevated circulating levels of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 in obese children.

Background: Obesity and cardiovascular disease (CVD) often co-exist, but the pathophysiologic mechanisms that link the two are not fully understood. Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) is involved in the modification of lipids within atheromatous plaques. Recently, circulating Lp-PLA2 was found to be predictive of thromboembolic episodes in adults, independently of a variety of other potential risk factors, including markers of inflammation, renal function, and hemodynamic stress.