Beyond lipid lowering: Effects of PCSK9 inhibition on inflammation and HDL function

BACKGROUND: Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibition effectively lowers low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and cardiovascular risk, but its pleiotropic effects remain insufficiently defined. This study examined whether PCSK9 inhibition influences vascular and systemic inflammation and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) antioxidant function. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of PCSK9 inhibition on vascular inflammation, systemic inflammatory markers, and HDL antioxidant function in a real-world patient cohort. MATERIAL AND METHODS: ). Systemic inflammation was evaluated via high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and a predefined cytokine panel. RESULTS: did not change (1.190-1.210, P = .3438). Interferon gamma-induced protein (IP) 10 (P = .0141) and interleukin (IL)-2 (P = .0371) decreased, whereas hsCRP and other cytokines-including IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-17A, tumor necrosis factor-α, monocyte chemotactic protein-1, interferon-γ, and free radicals-remained unchanged (all P > .05). CONCLUSION: and IP-10 without changing global inflammatory response or antioxidant function of HDL, which might indicate a decrease in chronic vascular inflammation without an undesired broad systemic immune alteration.