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Updated: Mar 13, 2026

Coronary Progenitor Cells and Soluble Biomarkers in Cardiovascular Prognosis after Coronary Angioplasty
Published on: January 28, 2020
Decreased serum PCSK9 levels after ischaemic stroke predict worse outcomes
Luca Liberale1, Fabrizio Montecucco1,2,3, Ilaria Casetta4
1First Clinic of Internal Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
Background:
Soluble mediators have been investigated to predict the prognosis of acute ischaemic stroke (AIS). Among them, proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) might have both clinical and pathophysiological relevance.
Materials And Methods:
All available serum samples from a cohort of patients with first AIS (n = 72) were tested for PCSK9 and included in this substudy analysis. The primary endpoint investigated the predictive value of early PCSK9 level variations (ΔPCSK9) from AIS onset to day 7 or from day 1 to day 7, towards a 90-day outcome by modified Rankin Scale (mRS). The secondary endpoint explored the association between ΔPCSK9 and the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs).
Results:
Decreased serum PCSK9 levels at days 1 and 7 were associated with poor clinical outcomes at day 90. At the cut-off point identified by ROC curve analysis (-61·28 ng/mL), ΔPCSK9 day 7-day 1 predicted a poor mRS at day 90 after AIS. ΔPCSK9 day 7-day 1 ≤ -61·28 ng/mL was associated with an increased rate of MACEs.
Conclusion:
A decrease in PCSK9 levels was a predictor for poor outcome and increased MACEs after AIS. Additional studies targeting post-AIS PCSK9 levels and activity are required to clarify the prognostic and pathophysiological relevance of PCSK9 after AIS.
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