Dr. Blanchet : A New Drug for At Risk Lp-PLa2 ?
About this Episode
QUESTION: "My Lp-PLA2 bloodwork shows me at risk for arterial inflammation. I understand there is a new drug being tested to reduce Lp-PLA2. Should I take it as soon as it is available?"
GENERAL BACKGROUND:
Advanced tests measure blood levels of an enzyme called lipoprotein phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2). The Lp-PLA2 enzyme unleashes a chain of harmful events culminating in endothelial dysfunction, which is a pathological abnormality in the blood vessel wall that sets the stage for atherosclerosis, plaque accumulation, and rupture.
An elevated level of Lp-PLA2 may signal that an arterial plaque is susceptible to rupture, which could cause a clot to break loose, precipitating a heart attack or stroke.
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To see more of his story, please see the work by Jennae Geren whose vision and journalistic talents are bringing stories such as this to the world: Ihadadreamproject.com and GerenImaging.com