Effect of Directly Acting Antivirals for Hepatitis C Virus Infection on Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/kexin Type 9 Level

Overview

Journal Health Sci Rep

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2021 May 10

PMID 33969232

Citations 3

Authors

Carlo Torti

Vincenzo Scaglione

Bruno Mario Cesana

Chiara Costa

Nadia Marascio

Elisabetta Schiaroli

Chiara Busti

Sabrina Bastianelli

Maria Mazzitelli

Enrico Maria Trecarichi

Daniela Francisci

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background And Aims: Eradication of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) may affect proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) levels and cardiovascular risk. However, information regarding PCSK9 level after HCV eradication is lacking. Hence, in this case-control retrospective study, we aimed to evaluate PCSK9 level from pretherapy baseline up to sustained virological response (SVR).

Methods: Eighty-four patients treated with directly acting antivirals (DAAs) between July 2015 and May 2018 were enrolled. Differences in baseline PCSK9 level due to absence/presence of recorded baseline characteristics (covariates) were evaluated. Changes in PCSK9 levels from pretherapy to SVR (ΔPCSK9) and their correlations with the covariates were assessed. The repeated measures analysis of variance was used to investigate the differences in PCSK9 level from the baseline to the achievement of SVR due to absence/presence of any covariate.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 67.6 ± 11 years, and 53.6% were males. Baseline PCSK9 levels were statistically lower in patients using statins than in those not using statins (mean, 70.3 ± 43.1 ng/mL vs 271.8 ± 252.2 ng/mL; = .017). PCSK9 level decreased significantly from baseline to the time of SVR (255 ± 248 ng/mL vs 169 ± 188 ng/mL; < .001). PCSK9 levels were statistically higher in the HCV-infected patients at baseline than in the control group (255 ± 248 vs 166.3 ± 120.2 ng/mL; = .020); however, this difference was lost after achieving SVR (mean, 169 ± 188 vs 166.3 ± 120.2 ng/mL; = .464). Changes in PCSK9 level was not statistically related to any of the recorded covariates. The PCSK9 mean level did not differ significantly with absence/presence of any covariate from pretherapy to SVR.

Conclusions: The reduction in mean PCSK9 level from baseline pretherapy to after HCV eradication was statistically significant. Whether PCSK9 is a new biomarker for cardiovascular risk in these patients remains to be ascertained.

Citing Articles

Proprotein convertase subtisilin/kexin 9 levels decline with hepatitis C virus therapy in people with HIV/hepatitis C virus and correlate with inflammation.

Gandhi M, Nguyen K, Lake J, Liao D, Khodabakhshian A, Guerrero M AIDS. 2023; 38(3):317-327.

PMID: 37788081 PMC: 10841736. DOI: 10.1097/QAD.0000000000003739.

Emerging Insights on the Diverse Roles of Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9 (PCSK9) in Chronic Liver Diseases: Cholesterol Metabolism and Beyond.

Grewal T, Buechler C Int J Mol Sci. 2022; 23(3).

PMID: 35162992 PMC: 8834914. DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031070.

Effect of directly acting antivirals for hepatitis C virus infection on proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 level.

Torti C, Scaglione V, Cesana B, Costa C, Marascio N, Schiaroli E Health Sci Rep. 2021; 4(2):e273.

PMID: 33969232 PMC: 8088586. DOI: 10.1002/hsr2.273.

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