Role of PCSK9 antibodies in cardiovascular disease: Critical considerations of mortality and neurocognitive findings from the current literature

Monoclonal antibodies targeting proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) are a novel lipid-lowering approach found to improve clinical outcomes in patients with dyslipidemia. With coronary artery disease remaining the most frequent cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, a drug offering a true mortality reduction should be appropriately regarded as a novel blockbuster in cardiovascular medicine, provided that significant side effects do not emerge. However, a recent study may suggest an increase of neurocognitive adverse events with those drugs. A critical overview of current evidence on neurocognitive outcomes as well as the meta-analytical approach with open-label extension trials evaluating PCSK9 monoclonal antibodies is needed to avoid potential controversy. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.