Risk Factors for People with Low LDL Cholesterol

The findings were published in the February 2, 2004, online issue of Circulation.

Individuals in the study with normal LDL levels but elevated levels of both Lp-PLA2 and CRP had three times the risk for a cardiac event. Those with normal LDL levels but elevated Lp-PLA2 levels had twice the risk for a coronary event compared to individuals with low levels of Lp-PLA2. One-third of heart attacks occurred in individuals with low cholesterol, below 130 mg/dl.

"In the current guidelines, drug therapy is not recommended in primary prevention of CHD for individuals with LDL cholesterol below 130 mg/dl. A Lp-PLA2 measurement with the PLAC test helps identify those who may benefit from risk reduction interventions, such as improved diet, exercise, and drug therapy, before a coronary event occurs,” said lead author Christie M. Ballantyne, M.D., director of the Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention at Baylor College of Medicine (Houston, TX, USA).

Lp-PLA2 levels can be measured using the PLAC test developed by diaDexus (So. San Francisco, CA, USA).




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Baylor College of Medicine