Lipoprotein-Associated Phospholipase A2 – Pathophysiological Role and Clinical Significance as a Cardiovascular Biomarker

Within the last decade, a broad range of biomarkers associated with an increased risk for death and cardiovascular/cerebrovascular endpoints have been identified. Epidemiological studies clearly indicate that lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) has the potential to become clinically useful emerging biomarker in the true sense, linking plaque biology with cardiovascular/cerebrovascular event rate. Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 is a specific vascular inflammatory marker, a risk factor, a prognostic biomarker, and also a therapeutic target. This chapter will summarize our current knowledge on Lp-PLA2 with emphasis on its potential pathophysiological mechanisms of action and on clinical relevance as cardiovascular/cerebrovascular biomarker. This chapter gives comprehensive, systematic review of studies assessing the significance of Lp-PLA2 in cardiovascular/cerebrovascular diseases with emphasis on clinical benefit of pharmacologic inhibition of Lp-PLA2