Community-based statins and advanced carotid plaque: role of CD163 positive macrophages in lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 activity in atherosclerotic …

F Otsuka, XQ Zhao, HH Trout, Y Qiao, BA Wasserman… - Atherosclerosis, 2017 - Elsevier
Background and aims Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A 2 (Lp-PLA 2), an enzymatic
inflammatory biomarker primarily bound to low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, is associated
with an approximate twofold increased risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. Despite
indications that circulating Lp-PLA 2 is sensitive to statins, it remains largely unknown
whether statin usage exerts local effects on Lp-PLA 2 expression at the site of atheromatous
plaque. Methods Carotid plaques (n= 38) were prospectively collected from symptomatic (n …