The relationship between serum proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 levels and endothelial dysfunction and subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with chronic kidney disease

Objective: This study aims to investigate the relationship between serum PCSK9 values and subclinical atherosclerosis and endothelial dysfunction in patients with chronic kidney disease. Materials and methods: A total of 127 participants over the age of 20 those receiving hemodialysis (HD) (n=30), those receiving continuous peritoneal dialysis (PD) (n=36), stage 3-4 CKD (n=31), and non-CKD control group (n=30) participants] were included in this clinical cross-sectional study. Flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) for ED, endothelial deceleration time (EDT) for left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD), and carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) for subclinical atherosclerosis were measured by echocardiography. Blood samples were taken for simultaneous PCSK9 measurements. Results: Of the 122 participants who participated in the study, 30 (24.5%) were in the control group, 31 (25.4) in the stage 3-4 CKD patient group, 31 (25.4) in the peritoneal dialysis group, and 30 (24.5%) in the hemodialysis patient group. Although no significant difference was found between the study groups in FMD BASE and FMD HYPEREMIA; FMD ratio was found to be significant (P values, respectively; 0.552; 0.435; 0.001). A significant difference was found between the CIMT groups (both 0<.001). E/e', one of the parameters indicating LVDD was found to be significantly different (P:0.009). Conclusion: There was a statistically significant difference in endothelial dysfunction and subclinical atherosclerosis in chronic kidney disease patients compared to the healthy group. However, no significant difference was found in PCSK9 correlation. Keywords: Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9, chronic kidney disease, endothelial dysfunction, subclinical atherosclerosis