The blood factor, lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2), is also associated with, but does not accurately predict, heart-disease risk in Caucasians. Scientists measured Lp-PLA2 levels in the blood of 336 Caucasians and 224 Americans of African descent who were about to be tested to determine coronary artery disease in high-risk patients. Coronary arteriography findings were compared with the amount and activity levels of Lp-PLA2 from each patient.

During the procedure, contrast dye and X-rays were used to detect narrowed or blocked arteries, indicating the potential for heart attacks. The outcomes showed that Lp-PLA2 activity was higher among Caucasians and Americans of African descent with coronary artery disease. In addition, only in the latter was the Lp-PLA2 index found to predict independently coronary artery disease.

"This study suggests that inflammation may be a more important mechanism in heart disease for African-Americans than it is for Caucasians and increases our growing understanding of how heart-disease processes vary in different ethnic groups," said Lars Berglund, senior study author and associate dean for research at the UC Davis School of Medicine. "The more we appreciate such differences, the better we can individualize treatment and prevention approaches."

Lp-PLA2 was recently identified as a marker for the inflammatory processes involved in atherosclerosis. It is considered key to the progression and rupture of fatty plaques that can block coronary arteries and lead to heart attacks.

The scientific team plans further studies of Lp-PLA2 and other inflammatory components of blood in a wider range of patients to get a clearer picture of their roles in predicting heart disease for different ethnic and racial groups.

The study was performed at the University of California (UC) Davis School of Medicine (Sacramento, CA, USA). Findings were published in the July 2010 issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

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