Serum PCSK9 levels in infants with deviant birth weight: a biomarker of the lipoprotein metabolism

Figures & data

Table 1. Perinatal characteristics in the total cohort, and the subgroup of term and preterm infants.

Total cohort	SGA (n = 33)	AGA (n = 32)	LGA (n = 17)	p Value
Gestational age, weeks	35.6 ± 2.4	35.6 ± 3.3	38.6 ± 1.1	.001
Birth weight, g	2075 ± 552	2585 ± 696	4127 ± 265	<.001
Birth length, cm	44.9 ± 3.9	47.4 ± 4.1	52.6 ± 2.4	<.001
Head circumference, cm	31.5 ± 2.3	32.5 ± 2.5	35.9 ± 0.9	<.001
Gender, male	18 (55%)	18 (56%)	12 (70%)	.549
Mode of delivery, cesarean section	28 (85%)	21 (66%)	8 (47)	.021
Gestational diabetes	6 (18%)	10 (31%)	2 (12%)	.243
Gestational hypertension	4 (12%)	2 (6)	–	.310
Singleton pregnancy	24 (73%)	27 (84%)	17 (100%)	.121
Conception, in vitro fertilization	8 (24%)	9 (28%)	–	.056
Breast milk feeding	25 (76%)	21 (66%)	13 (77%)	.734
Length of stay, days	6 (3–24)	6 (3–18)	3 (3–5)	.043
Term infants	SGA (n = 16)	AGA (n = 15)	LGA (n = 17)	p value
Gestational age, weeks	38 ± 0.7	38.4 ± 0.9	38.6 ± 1	.108
Birth weight, g	2519 ± 230	3207 ± 302	4127 ± 265	<.001
Birth length, cm	48 ± 1.8	50.4 ± 2	52.6 ± 2.4	<.001
Head circumference, cm	33.3 ± 0.9	34.4 ± 0.8	35.9 ± 0.9	<.001
Gender, male	6 (38%)	9 (60%)	12 (70%)	.167
Mode of delivery, cesarean section	11 (69%)	6 (53%)	8 (47)	.475
Gestational diabetes	4 (25%)	3 (20%)	2 (12%)	.243
Gestational hypertension	1 (6%)	–	–	.310
Singleton pregnancy	13 (81%)	15 (100%)	17 (100%)	.059
Conception, in vitro fertilization	2 (13%)	1 (7%)	–	.402
Breast milk feeding	10 (63%)	5 (33%)	13 (77%)	.045
Length of stay, days	3 (3–4)	4 (3–5)	3 (3–5)	.411
Preterm infants	SGA (n = 17)	AGA (n = 17)		p Value
Gestational age, weeks	33.6 ± 1.9	33.3 ± 2.5		.484
Birth weight, g	1658 ± 422	2036 ± 420		.013
Birth length, cm	42 ± 3	44.3 ± 3.4		.044
Head circumference, cm	29.8 ± 1.9	30.9 ± 2.4		.162
Gender, male	12 (71%)	9 (53%)		.481
Mode of delivery, cesarean section	17 (100%)	13 (77%)		.103
Gestational diabetes	2 (18%)	7 (41%)		.118
Gestational hypertension	3 (17%)	2 (12%)		1.000
Singleton pregnancy	11 (65%)	12 (71%)		1.000
Conception, in vitro fertilization	6 (35%)	8 (47%)		.728
Breast milk feeding	15 (78%)	16 (86%)		1.000
Length of stay, days	24 (14–34)	15 (6–30)		.474

SGA: small of gestation; AGA: appropriate for gestation; LGA: large for gestation. Continuous variables are expressed as mean ± standard deviation, or median (interquartile range). Categorical variables are expressed as n (percentage).

Table 2. PCSK9 and lipids in the total cohort, and the subgroup of term and preterm infants.

Total cohort	SGA (n = 33)	AGA (n = 32)	LGA (n = 17)	p Value
PCSK9, ng/ml	322 (236–431)	263 (217–302)	218 (194–291)	.011
Triglycerides, mg/dl	116 ± 61	90 ± 46	101 ± 37	.152
Total cholesterol, mg/dl	93.4 ± 26.3	104.3 ± 41.8	97.7 ± 44.7	.518
HDL cholesterol, mg/dl	27.3 ± 10.1	31.6 ± 12.5	27.9 ± 8.2	.265
LDL cholesterol, mg/dl	48.9 ± 24.7	56.6 ± 36.2	45.8 ± 13	.385
Term infants	SGA (n = 16)	AGA (n = 15)	LGA (n = 17)	p Value
PCSK9, ng/ml	264 (174–352)	242 (207–287)	218 (194–291)	.625
Triglycerides, mg/dl	148 ± 62	106 ± 39	101 ± 37	.017
Total cholesterol, mg/dl	93.7 ± 24.9	86.8 ± 29.3	97.7 ± 44.7	.681
HDL cholesterol, mg/dl	25.1 ± 6.3	23.9 ± 9.5	27.9 ± 8.2	.398
LDL cholesterol, mg/dl	41.5 ± 21.4	45.9 ± 13	45.8 ± 13	.758
Preterm infants	SGA (n = 17)	AGA (n = 17)		p Value
PCSK9, ng/ml	379 (308–551)	284 (221–336)		.006
Triglycerides, mg/dl	86.7 ± 43.3	77.4 ± 48.7		.573
Total cholesterol, mg/dl	93.1 ± 28.3	119.7 ± 45.9		.058
HDL cholesterol, mg/dl	29.4 ± 12.7	38.9 ± 10.6		.035
LDL cholesterol, mg/dl	48.9 ± 24.7	56.6 ± 36.2		.273

PCSK9: Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin-Type 9; SGA: small of gestation; AGAL: appropriate for gestation; LGA: large for gestation; HDL: high-density lipoprotein; LDL: low-density lipoprotein. Continuous variables are expressed as mean ± standard deviation or median (interquartile range).