Plasma PCSK9 Levels Are Elevated with Acute Myocardial Infarction in Two Independent Retrospective Angiographic Studies

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0106294
• Publication Date: 2014-09-02T14:01:07Z
• Authors: Naif A. M. Almont...; Ragnar O. Vilmund...; Nima Ghasemzadeh; Sonny Dandona; Robert Roberts; Arshed A. Quyyumi; Hsiao-Huei Chen; Alexandre F. R. S...
• Keywords: PCSK9

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is a circulating protein that promotes degradation of the low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor. Mutations block PCSK9 secretion reduce LDL-cholesterol and incidence myocardial infarction (MI). However, it remains unclear whether elevated plasma associates with coronary atherosclerosis (CAD) or more directly rupture plaque causing MI.Plasma was measured by ELISA in 645 angiographically defined controls (<30% stenosis) 3,273 cases CAD (>50% stenosis major artery) from Ottawa Heart Genomics Study. Because lipid lowering medications PCSK9, confounding association disease, only individuals not taking medication were considered (279 492 CAD). Replication sought 357 465 Emory Cardiology Biobank study. levels associated Ottawa, but Emory. Plasma 45 acute MI (363.5±140.0 ng/ml) compared to 398 without (302.0±91.3 ng/ml, p = 0.004) Ottawa. This finding replicated study 74 (445.0±171.7 273 (369.9±139.1 3.7×10(-4)). Since similar patients prior (non-acute) MI, our suggests either immediately at time are increased MI.