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Published on: August 13, 2019
Effects of Serum Estradiol on Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9 Levels and Lipid Profiles in Women
Anna Papanikolaou1, Georgia Anastasiou1, Fotios Barkas1,2
1Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45500 Ioannina, Greece.
Background:
The mechanisms underlying the impact of estradiol (E2) on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels are not completely understood, although a role for proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) has been proposed. We aimed to investigate the association between levels of E2, PCSK9, and lipid parameters in premenopausal women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Methods:
Healthy women undergoing IVF in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the University General Hospital of Ioannina were recruited. Their levels of E2, PCSK9, total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), LDL-C, and triglycerides (TGs) were measured 10 days after ovarian depression (E2min) and 7 days after ovarian stimulation (E2max).
Results:
We included 34 consecutive women of median age 38 (interquartile range 26-46) years who underwent a full IVF cycle. As expected, E2 levels increased by 329.6% from E2min to E2max (108 [47-346] to 464 [241-2471] pg/mL, p < 0.05). During the same time, serum PCSK9 levels decreased by 30.8% (245 ± 80 to 170 ± 64 ng/mL, p < 0.05). TC, LDL-C, and TGs decreased by 0.4%, 3.8%, and 2.2%, respectively, while HDL-C levels increased by 5.3% (all p = NS).
Conclusions:
The rise in endogenous E2 during an IVF cycle was related with a significant decline in serum PCSK9 levels, but no significant change in plasma lipids during a 7-day period.
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