PCSK9 and Sepsis: Our previous studies demonstrate that low cholesterol levels (specifically LDL-C) may increase sepsis risk.[4, 29] Barter, et al. found that CETP inhibitors lead to drastic elevations in HDL, reductions in LDL, and increased all-cause mortality.; death from infection comprised nearly half of the deaths.[30] However, the lack of an independent association between PCSK9 LOF variant presence and infection risk may suggest that an alternate pathway also likely links LDL-C with sepsis risk.