Objective: To investigate serum proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) concentrations in childbearing-aged female patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) combined with acute myocardial infarction (AMI)

and to analyze the correlation between PCSK9 levels and clinical indexes. Methods: Thirty childbearing-aged female patients with SLE combined with AMI (SLE-AMI group)

thirty age-matched female SLE patients without AMI (SLE-non-AMI group)

and thirty female healthy individuals (control group) were included in our research. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and serum PCSK9 levels were compared among three groups. Changes of PCSK9 concentrations

lipids profile and inflammatory indexes before and after therapies were compared in SLE-AMI group. Univariate correlational analysis of serum PCSK9 levels before treatment and disease parameters in SLE-AMI patients was conducted. Results: No difference of lipids profile was found among the three groups. Patients in SLE-AMI group had significantly higher PCSK9 levels

proportion of antiphospholipid antibody positivity and inflammatory markers than patients in SLE-non-AMI group. And serum PCSK9 levels declined vitally after therapies. In addition

higher PCSK9 levels were observed in SLE-AMI patients who had positive result of antiphospholipid antibody or antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) than those patients with negative results or without APS

respectively. Univariate and multivariate regression analysis suggested that serum levels of PCSK9 in SLE-AMI patients were correlated with C-reactive protein level and coexisted APS

without significant correlation with disease activity and lipids profile. Conclusion: Significant elevation of PCSK9 concentrations can be observed in childbearing-aged female patients with SLE combined with AMI. Moreover

PCSK9 levels are associated with clinical outcomes

inflammatory markers

and combination of APS

but not lipid profile.