Effects of lifestyle counseling and combination lipid-modifying therapy on lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 mass concentration.

Background: Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA(2)) is a novel inflammatory biomarker that is associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk independent of and additive to traditional risk factors. Lp-PLA(2) activity is correlated with the degree of inflammation in the atherosclerotic plaque. In human blood, approximately 80% of Lp-PLA(2) is associated with low-density lipoproteins (LDL). Thus, it is hypothesized that changes in Lp-PLA(2) should imitate the changes in the LDL cholesterol.

Objective: In this present study, we examined the efficacy of lifestyle intervention and combination lipid-lowering therapy on reducing the Lp-PLA(2) levels and determined the relationship between changes in LDL-C and Lp-PLA(2).

Methods: This retrospective chart review study includes two hundred forty eight patients (58% men and 42% women) who completed the life style intervention in combination with pharmacologic therapy for an average period of 10.5 months. Life style modification included diet and exercise counseling. Combination therapy included omega 3 fish oil (2000mg/d), extended-release niacin (500-1000mg/d), ezetimibe (10mg/d), fenofibrate 160mg/d and colesevelam HCI (1850mg/d), as well as statins. The statins used were either simvastatin (20-40mg/d) or rosuvastatin (5-20mg/d). Sixty five percent (n=161) received low to medium doses of simvastatin, whereas 35% (n=87) received low to medium doses of rosuvastatin.

Results: The study revealed a 32.5% reduction in mean Lp-PLA(2) values (baseline 181.1±41.5 vs 122.1±28.1 ng/mL after treatment; P<.001). The change observed in LDL-C was 41%, (baseline 126.2±43 vs 73.9±37.7mg/dL after treatment), which also was significant (P < .001). However, a Pearson correlation test analysis revealed only a weak positive association between changes in Lp-PLA(2) and LDL-C (r(2)=0.052, P < .001).

Conclusion: Lp-PLA(2) is reduced with the use of life style counseling and combination lipid lowering therapy. Results also revealed that changes in Lp-PLA(2) may be partially explained by the changes in LDL-C.