Elevated PCSK9 Levels in Untreated Patients With Heterozygous or Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia and the Response to High-Dose Statin Therapy

摘要

Background Proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is an enzyme that impairs low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) clearance from the plasma by promoting LDL receptor degradation. Patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) have reduced or absent LDL receptors and should therefore have elevated PCSK9 levels.