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Statins and Their Effect on PCSK9—Impact and Clinical Relevance

  • Statin Drugs (B. Wiggins, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Atherosclerosis Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

To review the interactions between statins and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibition.

Recent Findings

Statins are highly effective for reducing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, statins also raise levels of PCSK9, a protein that increases circulating LDL-C levels by increasing LDL-C receptor degradation. Increases in PCSK9 levels also reduce the LDL-C response to statin therapy.

Summary

The interactions between statins, PCSK9, LDL-C, and cardiovascular risk are multifaceted and are influenced by genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors as well as lipid-lowering therapies.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the research personnel of the Hartford Hospital Department of Preventive Cardiology, especially Gregory Panza, M.S., and Amanda Zaleski, M.S. In addition, all studies by Beth A. Taylor (Parker) and Paul D. Thompson involving human subjects were performed after approval by the appropriate institutional review boards with written informed consent obtained from all participants.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, Gampel Pavilion Room 207, 2095 Hillside Rd, U-1110, Storrs, CT, 06269-1110, USA

    Beth A. Taylor

  2. Division of Cardiology, Henry Low Heart Center, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT, USA

    Beth A. Taylor & Paul D. Thompson

  3. University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA

    Beth A. Taylor & Paul D. Thompson

Authors
  1. Beth A. Taylor
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  2. Paul D. Thompson
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Correspondence to Beth A. Taylor or Paul D. Thompson.

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Conflict of Interest

Dr. Taylor served on the Pharmacovigilance Monitoring Board for Amgen, Inc. and has received research support from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Dr. Thompson has received research support from Genomas, Roche, Sanofi, Regeneron, Esperion, Amarin, and Pfizer; has served as a consultant for Amgen, Regeneron, Merck, Genomas, Runners World, Sanofi, Esperion, and Amarin; has received speaker honoraria from Merck, Astra Zeneca, Kowa, and Amarin; owns stock in Abbvie, Abbott Labs, General Electric, J&J; and has provided expert legal testimony on exercise-related cardiac events and statin myopathy.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Statin Drugs

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Taylor, B.A., Thompson, P.D. Statins and Their Effect on PCSK9—Impact and Clinical Relevance. Curr Atheroscler Rep 18, 46 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11883-016-0604-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11883-016-0604-3

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