Lipoprotein lipase and premature coronary artery disease.

Objective: This study investigates the relationship between post-heparin plasma lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity, chronic inflammation and premature stable coronary artery disease (CAD) in male patients.
Methods and Results: 132 male patients (< 55 years) with documented stable CAD (cases) and 130 male subjects without CAD were enrolled. Cases had higher values of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and lower LPL activity [(5.31 +/- 3.06) mg/l vs. (2.67 +/- 1.01) mg/l, P < 0.01; (27.39 +/- 6.71) nmol x ml(-1) x min(-1) vs. (37.06 +/- 7.22) nmol x ml(-1) x min(-1), P < 0.01, respectively]. LPL activity was inversely associated with hs-CRP and triglycerides (TG), and positively associated with HDL-C (r = -0.761, P < 0.001; r = -0.339, P < 0.001; r = 0.217, P < 0.05; respectively) in cases. In multivariate analysis, higher values of hs-CRP (OR 1.45, 95% CI: 1.083-1.951; P = 0.013), BMI, LDL-C and hypertension were significant predictors of premature stable CAD in male patients. Higher LPL activity decreases risk of premature stable CAD (OR 0.87, 95% CI: 0.809-0.933; P = 0.000). LPL activities decreased with the increased number of significantly stenosed vessels (P < 0.05).
Conclusions: LPL activity and hs-CRP are significant predictors of premature stable CAD in male patients and are inversely correlated.