sPLA2 Inhibition to Decrease Enzyme Release After PCI Trial

As evidence accumulates that atherogenesis or Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) may not be simply a disorder of lipid metabolism, but an inflammatory disease, the focus of treatment has shifted. A-002 or Varespladib is an anti-inflammatory drug for treatment of chronic and acute diseases. It acts by inhibiting secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2 ) - one of a family of enzymes leading to inflammation - which may be important in: 1) the development of atherosclerosis and 2) the increase in occurence of cardiovascular events after angioplasty. Previous studies have demonstrated that sPLA2: 1) facilitates the pro-atherogenic effects of low-density (LDL or bad cholesterol) and 2) increased levels post-angioplasty correlate with an increased risk of events at followup contact. Therefore this study proposes to investigate the ability of A-002 to prevent or reduce myocardial damage after angioplasty by inhibiting the cascade of inflammatory mediators. Substudy - Subjects who agree will also have a vascular ultrasound 24h post-PCI to assess endothelial function.