Abstract:Objective To investigate the relationships of plasma levels of cyclophilin A (CyPA) and lipoprotein-association phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) with the unstability of carotid plaques and atherosclerotic cerebral infarction (ACI). Methods Carotid atherosclerotic plaques were defined by cervical vascular color ultrasonic inspection. The plasma levels of CyPA and Lp-PLA2 were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in patients with unstable carotid atherosclerosis plaques and ACI (ACI group), patients with unstable carotid atherosclerosis plaques (simple plaque group) and in healthy people (control group). Results The plasma level of CyPA in the ACI group [(2.031 ± 0.679) ng/ml] was significantly higher than that in the simple plaque group [(3.790 ± 0.943) ng/ml], which was in turn higher than that in the control group [(5.113 ± 1.568) ng/ml] (P < 0.05). The plasma level of Lp-PLA2 in the ACI group [(1.949 ± 0.666) ng/ml] was significantly higher than that in the simple plaque group [(1.703 ± 0.541) ng/ml], which was in turn higher than that in the control group [(1.426 ± 0.406) ng/ml] (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that CyPA was the independent risk factor for cerebral infarction in the patients of unstable plaques (■= 2.71; 95% CI: 1.52, 4.83; P = 0.01). Correlation analysis showed CyPA and Lp-PLA2 were in a positive correlation (r = 0.343). Conclusions Plasma CyPA and Lp-PLA2 levels can be used as clinical markers of unstable carotid plaques. Joint detection of CyPA and Lp-PLA2 could predict the occurrence of ACI.