NEW ORLEANS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Study results show that elevated lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2), a cardiovascular-specific inflammatory enzyme associated with unstable plaque that can lead to heart attack and stroke, is especially predictive of heart disease risk in patients with the metabolic syndrome—a serious medical condition that affects nearly 50 million Americans. The results, which were presented yesterday at the American College of Cardiology’s annual scientific session, confirm previous findings demonstrating the association between elevated Lp-PLA2 and coronary heart disease.