Lipids & metabolic liver disease
Impact of conventional lipid‐lowering therapy on circulating levels of p roprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomised controlled trials
Authors' conclusion
This systematic review confirms that conventional lipid-lowering drugs significantly elevate plasma PCSK9 levels.
Study context
- Population
- Adult patients in randomised controlled trials (RCTs) receiving conventional lipid-lowering drugs for at least 2 weeks, with PCSK9 recorded at baseline and post-treatment
- Participants
- 1,313 patients14 RCTs21 treatment arms
- Comparison
- Conventional lipid-lowering therapy: PCSK9 levels post-treatment vs baseline
- Outcome
- Circulating plasma PCSK9 levels
Methodological detailssubgroup and sensitivity analyses
- Subgroup and sensitivity analyses
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Plasma PCSK9 levels following conventional lipid-lowering drugs
Significant increase in plasma PCSK9 following treatment with conventional lipid-lowering drugs: weighted mean difference
23.25 ng/mL
95% CI 17.00, 29.50p < 0.01
Further pooled results
Subgroup analyses
- Significant differences by treatment intensity, type of lipid-lowering agent, underlying diseases and trial location
Original publication
Impact of conventional lipid‐lowering therapy on circulating levels of p roprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomised controlled trials. Diabetes Obes Metab. Published 8 February 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →