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Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) is an enzyme that appears to play a role in the inflammation of blood vessels and is thought to help promote atherosclerosis. This test measures the amount and activity of Lp-PLA2 in the blood.

Some recent studies have shown that Lp-PLA2 is an independent risk marker for cardiovascular disease (CVD), including coronary heart disease (CHD), and ischemic stroke. In these studies, increased concentrations of Lp-PLA2 were seen in many people who were diagnosed with CHD and ischemic stroke, regardless of other risk factors. These findings make this relatively new test potentially useful as one of a growing number of cardiac risk markers that are used to help determine a person's risk of developing CVD.

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• Enzymatic reaction dependent on Lp-PLA2 activity; results calculated based on substrate concentration before and after reaction

• Analytical sensitivity: 5 nmol/min/mL

• Aliases: Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2, platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH)