Journal of Epidemiology
Online ISSN : 1349-9092
Print ISSN : 0917-5040
ISSN-L : 0917-5040
Original Article
Association of Lipoprotein-associated Phospholipase A2 with Coronary Calcification among American and Japanese Men
Aiman El-SaedAkira SekikawaRiad Wahid ZakyTakashi KadowakiTomoko TakamiyaTomonori OkamuraDaniel EdmundowiczYoshikuni KitaLewis H. KullerHirotsugu Ueshima
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2007 Volume 17 Issue 6 Pages 179-185

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: We have previously reported that the prevalence of coronary artery calcification (CAC) was substantially lower among Japanese than American men despite a less favorable profile of many traditional risk factors in Japanese men. To determine whether lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) levels are related to the difference in the prevalence of CAC between the two populations.
METHODS: A total of 200 men aged 40-49 years were examined: 100 residents in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and 100 residents in Kusatsu City, Shiga, Japan. Coronary calcium score (CCS) was evaluated by electron-beam tomography, Lp-PLA2 levels, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) lipoprotein subclasses, and other factors were assessed in 2001-2002.
RESULTS: Lp-PLA2 levels were higher among American than Japanese men (Mean ± standard deviation 301.7 ± 82.6 versus 275.9 ± 104.7 ng/mL, respectively, p=0.06). Among all Japanese men and those with low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol ≥130 mg/dL, there was an inverse association of the prevalence of CCS>0 with the tertile groups of Lp-PLA2 levels (p=0.08 and p=0.03, respectively). American men did not have any association between CCS>0 with the tertile groups of Lp-PLA2 (p=0.62). Although Lp-PLA2 among both populations correlated positively with LDL and total cholesterol, American and Japanese men had different correlations with NMR lipoprotein subclasses. Reported high odds ratio for CCS>0 among American compared to Japanese men was not reduced after adjusting for Lp-PLA2 levels.
CONCLUSION: Lp-PLA2 may have different mechanisms of action among American and Japanese men. Lp-PLA2 levels can not explain the observed CAC differences between the two populations.
J Epidemiol 2007; 17: 179-185.

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© 2007 by Japan Epidemiological Association
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