Luca Liberale1, Federico Carbone2, Maria Bertolotto2, Aldo Bonaventura2, Alessandra Vecchié2, François Mach3, Fabienne Burger3, Aldo Pende4, Giovanni Spinella5, Bianca Pane5, Giovanni G Camici6, Domenico Palombo5, Franco Dallegri7, Fabrizio Montecucco8. 1. First Clinic of Internal Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, 6 viale Benedetto XV, 16132 Genoa, Italy; Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zürich, Wagistrasse 12, 8952 Schlieren, Switzerland. Electronic address: luca.liberale@uzh.ch. 2. First Clinic of Internal Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, 6 viale Benedetto XV, 16132 Genoa, Italy. 3. Division of Cardiology, Foundation for Medical Researches, Department of Medical Specialties, University of Geneva, 64 Avenue de la Roseraie, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland. 4. Clinic of Emergency Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Genoa and Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 10 Largo Rosanna Benzi, 16132 Genoa, Italy. 5. Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Unit, Department of Surgery, University of Genoa and Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 10 Largo Rosanna Benzi, 16132 Genoa, Italy. 6. Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zürich, Wagistrasse 12, 8952 Schlieren, Switzerland. 7. First Clinic of Internal Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, 6 viale Benedetto XV, 16132 Genoa, Italy; Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 10 Largo Benzi, 16132 Genoa, Italy. 8. First Clinic of Internal Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, 6 viale Benedetto XV, 16132 Genoa, Italy; Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 10 Largo Benzi, 16132 Genoa, Italy; Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research (CEBR), University of Genoa, 9 viale Benedetto XV, 16132 Genoa, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The pharmacological inhibition of Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin type 9 (PCSK9) has shown to dramatically impact on low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and associated cardiovascular (CV) diseases. However, the potential use of PCSK9 serum levels as a CV risk biomarker remains to be clarified. METHODS: 189 patients with severe carotid artery atherosclerosis undergoing carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and whose clinical records and serum sample aliquots for PCSK9 level measurement were available both directly before CEA and at 24-month follow-up were included in the present pilot study. The study endpoint was to determine whether PCSK9 serum levels prior to CEA would predict the occurrence of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) at 24-month follow-up. RESULTS: PCSK9 serum levels were significantly accurate in predicting ACS at 24-month follow-up, as assessed by ROC curve analysis (AUC: 0.719 [95% CI 0.649-0.781]). According to the cut-off point indicated by Youden's index, PCSK9 values >431.3 ng/mL were correlated with a higher risk of ACS occurrence (Log Rank test, p = 0.0003). At Cox regression analysis, the predictive ability of high serum PCSK9 was confirmed also after adjustment for age, gender, baseline statin treatment and active smoking, dyslipidemia, and chronic coronary artery disease (HR 17.04 [95% CI 3.34-86.81]; p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: High serum PCSK9 levels predict ACS occurrence at 24-month follow-up after CEA in patients with severe carotid artery stenosis. Larger clinical studies are needed to evaluate whether PCSK9 serum levels could be used towards predicting the risk of ACS in patients with advanced carotid atherosclerosis.
BACKGROUND: The pharmacological inhibition of Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin type 9 (PCSK9) has shown to dramatically impact on low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and associated cardiovascular (CV) diseases. However, the potential use of PCSK9 serum levels as a CV risk biomarker remains to be clarified. METHODS: 189 patients with severe carotid artery atherosclerosis undergoing carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and whose clinical records and serum sample aliquots for PCSK9 level measurement were available both directly before CEA and at 24-month follow-up were included in the present pilot study. The study endpoint was to determine whether PCSK9 serum levels prior to CEA would predict the occurrence of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) at 24-month follow-up. RESULTS:PCSK9 serum levels were significantly accurate in predicting ACS at 24-month follow-up, as assessed by ROC curve analysis (AUC: 0.719 [95% CI 0.649-0.781]). According to the cut-off point indicated by Youden's index, PCSK9 values >431.3 ng/mL were correlated with a higher risk of ACS occurrence (Log Rank test, p = 0.0003). At Cox regression analysis, the predictive ability of high serum PCSK9 was confirmed also after adjustment for age, gender, baseline statin treatment and active smoking, dyslipidemia, and chronic coronary artery disease (HR 17.04 [95% CI 3.34-86.81]; p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: High serum PCSK9 levels predict ACS occurrence at 24-month follow-up after CEA in patients with severe carotid artery stenosis. Larger clinical studies are needed to evaluate whether PCSK9 serum levels could be used towards predicting the risk of ACS in patients with advanced carotid atherosclerosis.