Is lysosomal acid lipase activity associated with the presence and severity of coronary artery disease?

Background Lipid metabolism is considerably complex and there can be many critical steps in atherogenesis. The association between lysosomal acid lipase (LAL) activity and coronary artery disease (CAD) has not been elucidated in detail. We aimed to evaluate the association between LAL activity with the presence and severity of CAD in patients who are seen in daily clinical practice. Methods Patients who underwent coronary angiography were divided into groups according to the angiography results. Syntax scores and Gensini scores were calculated. The LAL activity was measured from dried blood spots. Results Median LAL activity values were similar in all study groups (normal coronary arteries: 0.40 nmol/punch/h; non-obstructive CAD: 0.44 nmol/punch/h; obstructive chronic CAD: 0.40 nmol/punch/h; obstructive acute coronary syndrome: 0.48 nmol/punch/h) and there was no correlation between coronary atherosclerotic burden and LAL activity (correlation coefficients Syntax score and LAL: −0.032; Gensini score and LAL: −0.030). In addition, no relationship between serum lipid levels and LAL activity was detected. Conclusion The presence of CAD and its severity is not associated with the LAL activity in patients encountered in daily clinical practice.