Background/Goal: 

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is characterized by chronic inflammation and progressive course, with potential extraintestinal complications including cardiovascular mortality. Serum proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) levels have been recently recognized as biomarkers of low-grade inflammation and cardiovascular disease. The aim of our study was to evaluate PCSK9 levels in patients with UC and different degrees of disease activity.

Methods: 

We prospectively recruited consecutive patients with UC attending our center at the University Hospital of Padua. Demographics, clinical characteristics, and biochemical data, including PCSK9, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, and fecal calprotectin, were recorded. Moreover, endoscopic procedures were performed in all subjects.

Results: 

We included 112 patients with UC (mean age=52.62±12.84 y; 52.62% males). Patients with UC and abnormal fecal calprotectin (≥250 µg/g) and/or C-reactive protein (≥3 mg/L) had greater levels of PCSK9 compared with UC patients with normal fecal calprotectin and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (P=0.03 and 0.005, respectively). Higher endoscopic scores in UC were characterized by greater levels of PCSK9 (P=0.03). Furthermore, we found a positive correlation between PCSK9 levels and fecal calprotectin (r=0.18, P=0.04), endoscopic Mayo Score (r=0.25, P=0.007), and UC-Riley Index (r=0.22, P=0.01). We also found a positive correlation between PCSK9 levels and both total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol values (P<0.05).

Conclusions: 

Serum PCSK9 levels are increased in patients with biochemical and endoscopic evidence of active disease in UC. Further longitudinal studies are necessary to evaluate the role of PCSK9 as a potential biomarker of disease activity and cardiovascular risk in UC.

中文翻译：

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活动性溃疡性结肠炎患者的 PCSK9 血清水平升高，这是疾病活动的潜在生物标志物：一项横断面研究

背景/目标： 

溃疡性结肠炎（UC）的特点是慢性炎症和进行性病程，具有潜在的肠外并发症，包括心血管死亡。血清前蛋白转化酶枯草杆菌蛋白酶/kexin 9 型 (PCSK9) 水平最近被认为是低度炎症和心血管疾病的生物标志物。我们研究的目的是评估 UC 患者和不同疾病活动程度的 PCSK9 水平。

方法： 

我们前瞻性地连续招募了在帕多瓦大学医院中心就诊的 UC 患者。记录人口统计学、临床特征和生化数据，包括 PCSK9、高敏 C 反应蛋白和粪便钙卫蛋白。此外，所有受试者均进行了内窥镜手术。

结果： 

我们纳入了 112 名 UC 患者（平均年龄=52.62±12.84 岁；52.62% 为男性）。与粪便钙卫蛋白和超敏 C 反应蛋白正常的 UC 患者相比，粪便钙卫蛋白 (≥250 µg/g) 和/或 C 反应蛋白 (≥3 mg/L) 异常的 UC 患者 PCSK9 水平更高（P分别=0.03和0.005）。UC 内镜评分较高的特点是 PCSK9 水平较高（P = 0.03）。此外，我们发现PCSK9水平与粪便钙卫蛋白（ r =0.18，P =0.04）、内镜Mayo评分（r =0.25，P =0.007）和UC-Riley指数（r =0.22，P =0.01）呈正相关。。我们还发现 PCSK9 水平与总胆固醇和低密度脂蛋白胆固醇值之间呈正相关（P <0.05）。

结论： 

在具有 UC 活动性疾病生化和内镜证据的患者中，血清 PCSK9 水平升高。需要进一步的纵向研究来评估 PCSK9 作为 UC 疾病活动和心血管风险的潜在生物标志物的作用。