Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is a key regulator of serum
low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Although statins increase serum PCSK9
levels, the effects of different types of statins on the serum PCSK9 levels have not
been examined in detail. The purpose of the present study was to compare the effects
of pitavastatin versus pravastatin on the serum PCSK9 levels. A total of 164 patients
with coronary artery disease who were not receiving lipid-lowering therapy were randomly
assigned to receive either 4 mg/day of pitavastatin (intensive lipid-lowering therapy)
or 20 mg/day of pravastatin (moderate lipid-lowering therapy). The serum PCSK9 levels
were measured before statin treatment and 8 months after therapy. A significantly
greater reduction in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was observed in the pitavastatin
group (−41% vs −28%, p = 0.0001). The serum levels of total PCSK9 and heterodimer
PCSK9 significantly increased from 192 to 249 ng/ml (37%, p <0.0001) and 147 to 206
ng/ml (78%, p <0.0001) in the pitavastatin group and from 192 to 249 ng/ml (39%, p
<0.0001) and 143 to 201 ng/ml (65%, p <0.0001) in the pravastatin group, respectively.
The increase in total and heterodimer PSCK9 did not differ between the 2 groups. No
significant correlations were found between the percentage of changes in heterodimer
PCSK9 and changes in the various lipid parameters in either group. In conclusion,
significant increases in the total and heterodimer PSCK9 levels were observed at 8
months after treatment with pitavastatin and pravastatin; however, these increases
did not differ between the 2 statins.
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: February 22, 2013
Accepted:
January 16,
2013
Received in revised form:
January 16,
2013
Received:
December 30,
2012
Footnotes
See page 1418 for disclosure information.
Identification
Copyright
© 2013 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
