Study on the correlation between plasma lysophosphatidic acid, matrix metalloproteinase 9 and stability of carotid artery plaque in silent cerebral infarction

Objective To investigate the correlation between plasma lysophosphatidic acid (LPA),matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) and stability of carotid artery plaque in silent cerebral infarction (SCI).Methods According to the results of the ultrasound examination of carotid,128 patients with SCI were divided into intima-media thickness (IMT) normal group (35 cases),IMT thickening group (50 cases),stable plaque group (24 cases) and unstable plaque group (19 cases),and 40 healthy cases were selected as control group.The levels of plasma LPA and MMP-9 were determined and compared.Results The levels of plasma MMP-9 and LPA in IMT normal group,IMT thickening group,stable plaque group and unstable plaque group were higher than those in control group [(162.31 ±21.79),(219.62 ±32.51),(279.11 ±36.83),(382.43 ±41.92) μg/L vs.(96.54 ±21.34) μg/L and (1.91 ±0.42),(2.15 ±0.39),(2.69 ±0.51),(3.27 ± 0.48) μ mol/L vs.(1.69 ± 0.26) μ mol/L],and there were significant differences (P ＜ 0.01).In IMT normal group,IMT thickening group,stable plaque group and unstable plaque group,the levels of plasma MMP-9 and LPA gradually increased,and the differences among the groups were statistically significant (P ＜ 0.01).The correlation analysis showed that the levels of plasma MMP-9,LPA and IMT of carotid had positive correlation (r =0.713,P ＜ 0.01 ; r =0.679,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion The levels of plasma MMP-9 and LPA can reflect IMT of carotid and plaque stability in some extent,which can provide the clinical basis for condition assessment,prevention and treatment of SCI patients. Key words: Lysophospholipids;  Matrix metalloproteinase 9;  Carotid artery plaque