Autoimmune Hepatitis and Vitamin D Deficiency: A Nationwide Perspective.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is linked to worse outcomes in patients with chronic liver diseases (CLD). However, data in patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) remain limited.

Aims: We aimed to assess the impact of vitamin D deficiency on the outcomes of individuals with AIH.

Long-term effect of 2 intensive statin regimens on treatment and incidence of cardiovascular events in familial hypercholesterolemia: The SAFEHEART study.

Background: Maximal doses of potent statins are the basement of treatment of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). Little is known about the use of different statin regimens in FH.

Objectives: The objectives of the study were to describe the treatment changes and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goal achievement with atorvastatin (ATV) and rosuvastatin (RV) in the SAFEHEART cohort, as well as to analyze the incidence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular events (ACVEs) and changes in the cardiovascular risk.

Molecular basis of the familial chylomicronemia syndrome in patients from the National Dyslipidemia Registry of the Spanish Atherosclerosis Society.

Background: Familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS) is an extremely rare lipoprotein disorder caused by mutations in at least 5 genes of the lipoprotein lipase (LPL) complex.

Objective: This work shows the molecular analysis of patients diagnosed with FCS, who attended the Spanish Arteriosclerosis Society lipid units and were included in the National Dyslipidemia Registry.

Methods: Among the 238 patients registered with severe hypertriglyceridemia (fasting triglycerides >1000 mg/dL), 26 were diagnosed with FCS as they had confirmed postheparin plasma LPL activity deficiency and/or homozygosity for loss-of-function mutations in LPL, GPIHBP1, APOC2, LMF1, or Apolipoprotein A5 (APOA5).

Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia in Spain: Prevalence and Phenotype-Genotype Relationship.

Background: Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) is a rare disease characterized by elevated plasma levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and extremely high risk of premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. HoFH is caused by mutations in several genes, including LDL receptor (LDLR), apolipoprotein B (APOB), proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), and LDL protein receptor adaptor 1 (LDLRAP1). No epidemiological studies have assessed HoFH prevalence or the clinical and molecular characteristics of this condition.

Coronary Heart Disease, Peripheral Arterial Disease, and Stroke in Familial Hypercholesterolaemia: Insights From the SAFEHEART Registry (Spanish Familial Hypercholesterolaemia Cohort Study).

Objective: Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is the most common premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD)-related monogenic disorder, and it is associated with ischemic heart disease. There is limited information whether FH increases the risk of peripheral arterial and cerebrovascular disease. Our aim was to analyze ASCVD prevalence and characteristics in different arterial territories in a large FH population, to compare them with an unaffected control population and to determine which factors are associated to ASCVD.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with carotid atherosclerosis: a case-control study.

Objective: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) frequently coexists with obesity, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. We examined whether NAFLD was associated with atherosclerosis, as measured by ultrasound in the carotid arteries.

Methods And Results: Carotid atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk factors were assessed in 40 patients with an ultrasound diagnosis of primary NAFLD and 40 matched population controls.