Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 is associated with atherosclerosis in patients with Behcet's disease.

OBJECTIVES: The incidence of cardiovascular disease is increased in patients with Behcet's disease (BD). Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) causes the acceleration of atherosclerosis. We aimed to investigate whether there is a relationship between PCSK9 with carotid artery intima-media thickness (cIMT), a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis, and BD disease activity. METHODS: Fifty-eight patients with BD and 58 age-, gender-, and body mass index (BMI)-matched healthy control subjects were included in the study. The disease activity of the patients was estimated. Individuals' cIMT values were measured, and PCSK9 levels were studied. RESULTS: Patients with BD' cIMT (0.51 +/- 0.1 vs 0.41 +/- 0.1 mm, p < .001) and PCSK9 (623.2 +/- 101.7 +/- 10.1 vs 528.3 +/- 242.7 ng/ml, p = .007), values were significantly higher than the control group. In stepwise regression analysis, there was an independent relationship between cIMT with PCSK9 (beta = 0.179, p < .050). There was no independent relationship between disease activities with PCSK9. Based on the ROC curve analysis, the PCSK9 optimal cutoff value for cIMT was 595.1 ng/ml, sensitivity 66.7%, specificity 64.7% (AUC = 0.672; 95% CI: 0.530-0.815, p = .040). CONCLUSION: There is a strong independent association between subclinical atherosclerosis and PCSK9 in patients with BD. There may be no independent association between PCSK9 and disease activity.