Very short-term effects of a single dose of a proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 inhibitor before percutaneous coronary intervention: A single-arm study

The short-term (within 6 weeks) effects of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors on lipid plaques have not been adequately evaluated. We aimed to investigate whether a single dose of a PCSK9 inhibitor before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) could reduce the abundance of lipid-core plaques identified via near-infrared spectroscopy intravascular ultrasound (NIRS-IVUS) at target lesions within a very short period. This prospective, single-arm, single-center interventional study enrolled 27 consecutive patients with coronary artery disease. These patients underwent NIRS-IVUS during coronary angiography and repeat NIRS-IVUS during PCI performed between 2 and 6 weeks after the single-dose administration of 420 mg evolocumab. Changes in lesion lipid-core burden index (LCBI) and maximal LCBI over any 4-mm segment (max-LCBI) were assessed using NIRS at the target lesions, along with lipid profile. The max-LCBI significantly decreased from 387 before PCSK9 inhibitor administration to 315 after its administration (interquartile range [IQR]: 268–572 and 221–488, respectively; = 0.02) within a very short period. The lesion LCBI also decreased from 161 to 117 (IQR: 105–263 and 65–226, respectively; = 0.02). No significant changes were observed in the minimum lumen area and diameter. After PCSK9 inhibitor administration, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol ( < 0.001), lipoprotein(a) ( = 0.001), and malondialdehyde-modified LDL ( < 0.001) levels decreased compared with those before its administration. A single dose of the PCSK9 inhibitor administered before PCI reduced the abundance of lipid-core plaques identified via NIRS-IVUS at target lesions within a very short period of 2–6 weeks.