PCSK9 (r = 0.316, P = 0.083) and the LDL-receptor protein (r = 0.174, P = 0.340) did not correlate with fibrosis stage and were not reduced in the patients with liver cirrhosis when compared to patients with fibrosis stage 0 to 3 (Fig. 4a - e and data not shown). Here, PCSK9 is linked to cirrhosis of liver.