Increased circulating plasma lysophosphatidic acid in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Abstract Background The platelet activator lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) has recently been identified as an ingredient in oxidized LDL and it has been isolated from atherosclerotic plaques. The lysophospholipase D activity of autotaxin produces LPA extracellularly from lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC). The present study determines whether circulating LPA is associated with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods We enrolled 141 consecutive patients (age, 62.6 ± 3.8 y; male, 69.2%) with ACS (n = 38), stable angina pectoris (SAP; n = 72) or angiographically normal coronary arteries (NCA; n = 31). The relationships between LPA and other established biomarkers were examined. Concentrations of plasma LPA were determined using an enzymatic assay. Results Concentrations of LPA significantly correlated with LPC (r = 0.549), autotaxin (r = 0.370) and LDL-C (r = 0.307) (all p  Conclusions The present study demonstrated that increased circulating plasma LPA concentrations are significantly associated with ACS.