Glucocorticoid treatment in early rheumatoid arthritis is independently associated with increased PCSK9 levels: data from a randomised controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Rheumatoid arthritis elevates cardiovascular disease risk. Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), a regulator of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) metabolism, increases LDL-receptor breakdown in the liver, which elevates LDL-cholesterol levels. In addition, PCSK9 has direct effects on thrombogenesis and atherosclerotic plaque formation.We aimed to investigate (1) the impact of glucocorticoids and biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (bDMARD) treatments on PCSK9 and LDL-cholesterol levels, (2) whether this influence is different when autoantibodies are present and (3) the association between PCSK9 and LDL cholesterol.

Methods

In this post hoc analysis of the NORD-STAR trial, 296 newly diagnosed patients starting methotrexate with glucocortico

SUBMITTER: Lend K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12161332 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature