Lp- PLA2 Test (PLAC)Cardiac Risk Marker Serum

Lp pla2 plac test assesses your cardiac health. Cholesterol testing alone may fall short to detect a definitive diagnosis and cholesterol test can miss hidden risks for heart attack. Around 50% of heart attacks occur in patients with normal cholesterol; rather most cardiovascular (CV) events i.e., heart attack and strokes are caused due to rupture of plaque that is formed by cholesterol deposition within the blood vessels.

In heart diseases, it's known that an unhealthy lifestyle-such as intake of fatty foods, excess alcohol and smoking have a significant role to play in developing the risk of a stroke. This can shoot up cholesterol levels and increases blood pressure. Blood vessels become clogged with fatty deposits which will dislodge and make their route to the brain, depriving it of oxygen. Despite the fact, the doctors still opine that significant number of events occur in people with no obvious risk factors for the disease, hence measuring these levels is critical. 
Eventually, the unstable plaque can rupture, become potential lethal clots and debris loose in bloodstream—causing a stroke or a heart attack . PLAC test is second generation enzyme linked immunoassay test, helping doctors with prediction of future strokes and heart attack

Lp pla2 plac test measures Lp- PLA2 (PLAC)Cardiac risk marker in blood of patient

During lp pla2 plac test blood sample is taken from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a  little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.

A blood sample is required for the test. This test must be carried out in a lab with a modern Lp-PLA2-PLAC test facility. To collect the blood sample, the nurse will clean the skin with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol. A tourniquet will be firmly fastened on your upper arm. You will be asked to make a fist to fill your vein with blood. Next, a needle will be inserted into the vein and blood will be drawn in a vacutainer. The blood sample is then delivered to the lab for analysis.

High Lp- PLA2 levels may indicate need for more aggressive lipid lowering therapy to reduce the risk of CVD events. Patient with high levels are prone to rupture of plaque and associated cardiovascular events Low levels may mean that Lp- PLA2 levels are not contributing to the heart disease.

You may need to fast for a minimum of 8 to 12 hours before going for the Lp- PLA2 (PLAC) test. Although some doctors do not recommend fasting, most often this test is carried out in tandem with some other lipid-profile tests. These lipid profile tests need you to fast.

Lp- PLA2 serum levels under 200 ng/mL are considered normal. Some medical organizations define borderline levels as those between 200 and 235 ng/mL.

A cardiac risk calculator estimates your potential risk of cardiovascular illness (heart disease) based on your individual health data.

Your chance of developing heart disease rises if you are overweight, particularly if you are obese in the middle. Blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes are just a few problems that can be brought on by being overweight. These conditions can further raise your risk of developing heart disease.

An Lp-PLA2 test may be prescribed by your doctor to assess the risk of developing a heart condition or stroke. The test is often prescribed for individuals who are already at moderate to high risk of developing heart disease. Such factors mainly include:

• Metabolic syndrome
• Diabetes
• Smoking
• Older adults aged 65+
• Excess weight
• Hypothyroidism (reduced levels of thyroid hormone in the body)
• Those undergoing treatment for hypercholesterolaemia
• Family history of heart attack

Doctors may also advise the Lp- PLA2 (PLAC) serum test for people with lifestyle issues such as:

• Lack of physical activity
• Unhealthy diet (oily or fried food and processed food)
• smoking and alcohol consumption

To determine the levels of triglycerides (lipids) in your blood, your doctor could conduct lipid profile examinations. They involve the quantitative assessment of -

• Total cholesterol.
• Apolipoprotein A.
• High-density lipoprotein (HDL).
• Low-density lipoprotein, or LDL.
• Triglycerides.
• Very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL).

Your doctor may also prescribe blood tests and imaging tests depending on your symptoms. These include:

• C-reactive protein (CRP)
• Chest X-ray
• ECG
• Stress test
• Echocardiogram

• Lipoprotein-associated Phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2)
• PLAC Test