Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 activity is a marker of risk but not a useful target for treatment in patients with stable coronary heart disease

Lars Wallentin, Claes Held, Paul W. Armstrong, Christopher P. Cannon, Richard Y. Davies, Christopher B. Granger, Emil Hagström, Robert A. Harrington, Judith S. Hochman, Wolfgang Koenig, Sue Krug‐Gourley, Emile R. Mohler, Agneta Siegbahn, Elizabeth Tarka, Philippe Gabriel Steg, Ralph A. H. Stewart, Robert Weiss, Ollie Östlund, Harvey D. White, STABILITY Investigators

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Abstract

Background: We evaluated lipoprotein‐associated phospholipase A2 (Lp‐PLA2) activity in patients with stable coronary heart disease before and during treatment with darapladib, a selective Lp‐PLA2 inhibitor, in relation to outcomes and the effects of darapladib in the STABILITY trial.

Methods and Results: Plasma Lp‐PLA2 activity was determined at baseline (n=14 500); at 1 month (n=13 709); serially (n=100) at 3, 6, and 18 months; and at the end of treatment. Adjusted Cox regression models evaluated associations between Lp‐PLA2 activity levels and outcomes. At baseline, the median Lp‐PLA2 level was 172.4 μmol/min per liter (interquartile range 143.1–204.2 μmol/min per liter). Comparing the highest and lowest Lp‐PLA2 quartile groups, the hazard ratios were 1.50 (95% CI 1.23–1.82) for the primary composite end point (cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke), 1.95 (95% CI 1.29–2.93) for hospitalization for heart failure, 1.42 (1.07–1.89) for cardiovascular death, and 1.37 (1.03–1.81) for myocardial infarction after adjustment for baseline characteristics, standard laboratory variables, and other prognostic biomarkers. Treatment with darapladib led to a ≈65% persistent reduction in median Lp‐PLA2 activity. There were no associations between on‐treatment Lp‐PLA2 activity or changes of Lp‐PLA2 activity and outcomes, and there were no significant interactions between baseline and on‐treatment Lp‐PLA2 activity or changes in Lp‐PLA2 activity levels and the effects of darapladib on outcomes.

Conclusions: Although high Lp‐PLA2 activity was associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events, pharmacological lowering of Lp‐PLA2 activity by ≈65% did not significantly reduce cardiovascular events in patients with stable coronary heart disease, regardless of the baseline level or the magnitude of change of Lp‐PLA2 activity.
Original languageEnglish
Article numbere003407
JournalJournal of the American Heart Association
Volume5
Issue number6
Early online date21 Jun 2016
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2016

Keywords

  • atherosclerosis
  • coronary disease
  • inflammation
  • lipoprotein
  • myocardial infarction

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