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(Stroke. 2009;40:2332.)
© 2009 American Heart Association, Inc.

Original Contributions

Lipoprotein-Associated Phospholipase A₂ and C-Reactive Protein for Risk-Stratification of Patients With TIA

Brett L. Cucchiara, MD; Steve R. Messe, MD; Lauren Sansing, MD; Larami MacKenzie, MD; Robert A. Taylor, MD; James Pacelli, MD; Qaisar Shah, MD Scott E. Kasner, MD

From the University of Pennsylvania (B.L.C., S.R.M., L.S., L.M., S.E.K.), Philadelphia; the University of Minnesota (R.A.T.), Minneapolis; the Lancaster General Hospital (J.P.), Pa; and the Abington Memorial Hospital (Q.S.), Pa.

Correspondence to Brett Cucchiara, MD, Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104. E-mail cucchiar{at}mail.med.upenn.edu

Background and Purpose— Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A₂ (Lp-PLA₂) is a marker of unstable atherosclerotic plaque, and is predictive of both primary and secondary stroke in population-based studies.

Methods— We conducted a prospective study of patients with acute TIA who presented to the ED. Clinical risk scoring using the ABCD² score was determined and Lp-PLA₂ mass (LpPLA₂-M) and activity (LpPLA₂-A) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured. The primary outcome measure was a composite end point consisting of stroke or death within 90 days or identification of a high-risk stroke mechanism requiring specific early intervention (defined as 50% stenosis in a vessel referable to symptoms or a cardioembolic source warranting anticoagulation).

Results— The composite outcome end point occurred in 41/167 (25%) patients. LpPLA₂-M levels were higher in end point-positive compared to -negative patients (mean, 192±48 ng/mL versus 175±44 ng/mL, P=0.04). LpPLA₂-A levels showed similar results (geometric mean, 132 nmol/min/mL, 95% CI 119 to 146 versus 114 nmol/min/mL, 95% CI 108 to 121, P=0.01). There was no relationship between CRP and outcome (P=0.82). Subgroup analysis showed that both LpPLA₂-M (P=0.04) and LpPLA₂-A (P=0.06) but not CRP (P=0.36) were elevated in patients with >50% stenosis. In multivariate analysis using cut-off points defined by the top quartile of each marker, predictors of outcome included LpPLA₂-A (OR 3.75, 95% CI 1.58 to 8.86, P=0.003) and ABCD² score (OR 1.30 per point, 95% CI 0.97 to 1.75, P=0.08).

Conclusion— Many patients with TIA have a high-risk mechanism (large vessel stenosis or cardioembolism) or will experience stroke/death within 90 days. In contrast to CRP, both Lp-PLA₂ mass and activity were associated with this composite end point, and LpPLA₂-A appears to provide additional prognostic information beyond the ABCD² clinical risk score alone.

Key Words: transient ischemic attack • lipid and lipoprotein metabolism • secondary prevention