AimTo investigate whether atherosclerosis may be accelerated by lipoprotein-associated phospholipaseA₂(Lp-PLA₂) in patients with chronic renal failure(CRF). Methods 100 patients of CRF and 40 healthy volunteers were involved in the study.The levels of plasma Lp-PLA₂ were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Intima-middle thickness (IMT) and prevalence atherosclerotic plaques of the extrcranial common carotid artery were measured by high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography. The CRF group level of plasma Lp-PLA₂ was compared with the control group.The levels of plasma Lp-PLA₂ were compared between the different groups in patients with CRF.The multiple stepwise regression analysis was used for the multi-factor of affecting the carotid artery IMT. ResultsHigher plasma Lp-PLA₂ levels were found in patients with CRF(232.16±59.36 μg/L） as compared with those in healthy controls(129.47±29.72 μg/L,p<0.01）. Lp-PLA₂ levels in dialysis patients(261.84±50.82 μg/L） were significantly higher than in pre-dialysis patients(204.73±53.95 μg/L,p＜0.01）. Lp-PLA₂ levels increased with the progression of renal dysfunction and inversely correlated with creatinine clearance(Ccr)(r＝－0.567, p<0.01).Patients with carotid artery atherosclerotic plaques showed significantly higher levels of Lp-PLA₂(281.33±39.72 μg/L） as compared with patients without carotid artery atherosclerotic plaques(188.46±35.02 μg/L,p<0.01). By multiple stepwise regression analysis strong association was still present between Lp-PLA₂ levels and carotid artery IMT(β＝0.735,p<0.01) in the CRF patients. ConclusionThe results indicate that atherosclerosis is associated with increase of plasma Lp-in CRF patients.The elevated levels of Lp-PLA₂ may be involved in the occurrence and development of atherosclerosis for CRF patients.