Lipoprotein(a) in children and adolescents with genetically confirmed familial hypercholesterolemia followed up at a specialized lipid clinic.

Background And Aim: Many children with an FH mutation also exhibit elevated lipoprotein(a) levels, which is an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Studies have reported higher levels of lipoprotein(a) in adult and middle-aged women than men. There is limited knowledge on the concentration and change of lipoprotein(a) levels in children with genetic FH, and therefore we investigated sex-differences in lipoprotein(a) level and change in lipoprotein(a) in girls and boys with genetically confirmed FH.

Young women with familial hypercholesterolemia have higher LDL-cholesterol burden than men: Novel data using repeated measurements during 12-years follow-up.

Background And Aims: The concentration and the duration of exposure to low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (LDL-C burden) is an important determinant of risk for cardiovascular disease and thresholds has recently been estimated. Individuals with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) have increased risk of premature cardiovascular disease. The overall aim of the present study was to describe differences in LDL-C level and LDL-C burden in females and males with FH visiting an outpatient lipid clinic from a young age, using multiple LDL-C measurements during a follow-up time of 12 years.

High levels of lipoprotein(a) - assessment and treatment.

Approximately 5 % of the population have highly elevated levels of lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)), which is a genetically determined risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Measuring lipoprotein(a) can improve cardiovascular risk stratification and have consequences for preventive measures. Treatment is targeted at reducing modifiable cardiovascular risk factors, but Lp(a)-lowering drugs are being trialled.

Empagliflozin cardiovascular and renal effectiveness and safety compared to dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors across 11 countries in Europe and Asia: Results from the EMPagliflozin compaRative effectIveness and SafEty (EMPRISE) study.

Background: Continued expansion of indications for sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors increases importance of evaluating cardiovascular and kidney efficacy and safety of empagliflozin in patients with type 2 diabetes compared to similar therapies.

Methods: The EMPRISE Europe and Asia study is a non-interventional cohort study using data from 2014-2019 in seven European (Denmark, Finland, Germany, Norway, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom) and four Asian (Israel, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan) countries. Patients with type 2 diabetes initiating empagliflozin were 1:1 propensity score matched to patients initiating dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors.

Do we need new lipid-lowering agents in the era of PCSK9 inhibitors? Recent advances.

Atherosclerotic disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide. Much of atherosclerotic disease initiation and progression is driven by dyslipidemia. With the advent of statins, ezetimibe, and more recently the proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors, physicians across all specialties have access to an armamentarium to address this major pathophysiological driver.

Thirty percent of children and young adults with familial hypercholesterolemia treated with statins have adherence issues.

Objective: To assess adherence to lipid lowering therapy (LLT), reasons for poor adherence, and achievement of LDL-C treatment goals in children and young adults with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH).

Methods: Retrospective review of the medical records of 438 children that started follow-up at the Lipid Clinic, Oslo University hospital, between 1990 and 2010, and followed-up to the end of July 2019. Based on information on adherence to the LLT at the latest visit, patients were assigned to "good adherence" or "poor adherence" groups.

Risk of Recurrent Coronary Events in Patients With Familial Hypercholesterolemia; A 10-Years Prospective Study.

Real world evidence on long term treatment of patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is important. We studied the effects of intensive lipid lowering medication (LLM) and optimized lifestyle in the study TTTFH-Treat To Target FH. Adults with a first known total cholesterol of mean (95% CI) 9.

Long term follow-up of children with familial hypercholesterolemia and relatively normal LDL-cholesterol at diagnosis.

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a genetic disorder with high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and high risk of cardiovascular disease. The long-term importance of carrying an FH mutation despite having relatively normal LDL-C levels in childhood is not known. We investigated the development of LDL-C levels and need of statin therapy in children with an FH mutation, with pretreatment LDL-C ≤ 4.

Subjects with familial hypercholesterolemia have lower aortic valve area and higher levels of inflammatory biomarkers.

Background: Reduction of the aortic valve area (AVA) may lead to aortic valve stenosis with considerable impact on morbidity and mortality if not identified and treated. Lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] and also inflammatory biomarkers, including platelet derived biomarkers, have been considered risk factor for aortic stenosis; however, the association between Lp(a), inflammatory biomarkers and AVA among patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is not clear.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the relation between concentration of Lp(a), measurements of the aortic valve including velocities and valve area and circulating inflammatory biomarkers in adult FH subjects and controls.

Cardiovascular outcomes and LDL-cholesterol levels in EMPA-REG OUTCOME.

Objective: It is well established that higher low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol levels are associated with increased cardiovascular risk. We analyzed whether effects of empagliflozin on cardiovascular outcomes varied by different LDL-cholesterol levels at baseline in EMPA-REG OUTCOME.

Methods: Participants with type 2 diabetes and high cardiovascular risk received empagliflozin (10/25 mg) or placebo in addition to standard of care.

Genetic testing is essential for initiating statin therapy in children with familial hypercholesterolemia: Examples from Scandinavia.

Background And Aims: In familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), statin treatment should be considered from 8 to 10 years of age, but the prevalence of statin use among children is not known.

Methods: Statin use (2008-2018) among children aged 10-14 and 15-19 years was obtained from the national prescription databases in Norway, Sweden and Denmark. We assumed that all statin users in these age groups had FH, and that the estimated prevalence of FH is 1 in 250 inhabitants.

Regional Variations in Alirocumab Dosing Patterns in Patients with Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia During an Open-Label Extension Study.

Purpose: During the alirocumab open-label extension study ODYSSEY OLE (open-label extension; NCT01954394), physicians could adjust alirocumab dosing for enrolled patients, who were diagnosed with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) and who had completed previous phase III clinical trials with alirocumab. This post hoc analysis evaluated the differences in physician-patient dosing decisions between the regions of Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, and the rest of the world (ROW).

Methods: Patients (n = 909) who received starting dose alirocumab 75 mg every 2 weeks (Q2W) during ODYSSEY OLE (patients from FH I, FH II, and LONG TERM parent studies) were included.

Efficacy and Safety of Alirocumab 300 mg Every 4 Weeks in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes on Maximally Tolerated Statin.

Context: In the ODYSSEY CHOICE I trial, alirocumab 300 mg every 4 weeks (Q4W) was assessed in patients with hypercholesterolemia. Alirocumab efficacy and safety were evaluated in a patient subgroup with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and who were receiving maximally tolerated statins with or without other lipid-lowering therapies.

Methods: Participants received either alirocumab 300 mg Q4W (n = 458, including 96 with T2DM) or placebo (n = 230, including 50 with T2DM) for 48 weeks, with alirocumab dose adjustment to 150 mg every 2 weeks at Week (W) 12 if W8 low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels were ≥70 mg/dL or ≥ 100 mg/dL, depending on cardiovascular risk, or if LDL-C reduction was <30% from baseline.

LDL-cholesterol goal achievement, cardiovascular disease, and attributed risk of Lp(a) in a large cohort of predominantly genetically verified familial hypercholesterolemia.

Background: Current treatment goals for familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) recommended by the European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS) are LDL-C ≤2.5 mmol/L (∼100 mg/dL) or ≤1.8 mmol/L (∼70 mg/dL) in very high-risk subjects.

Familial hypercholesterolemia and young patients' thoughts on own condition and treatment.

Objectives: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a hereditary and usually asymptomatic condition characterized by elevated blood cholesterol and increased risk of premature cardiovascular disease. It is treated with dietary modifications and lipid lowering drugs. The objective was to learn about young FH patients' perceptions and choices regarding treatment.

Individualized low-density lipoprotein cholesterol reduction with alirocumab titration strategy in heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia: Results from an open-label extension of the ODYSSEY LONG TERM trial.

Background: Patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) who completed the double-blind ODYSSEY LONG TERM parent trial and subsequently enrolled in the open-label extension (OLE) study, ODYSSEY OLE (NCT01954394), provide a unique opportunity to investigate effects of 2 doses of alirocumab, a proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitor, within the same patient cohort.

Objective: The aim of the study was to characterize long-term efficacy and safety of 2 alirocumab dosages and utility of a dose titration strategy in patients with HeFH.

Methods: After an 8-week washout period, patients with HeFH who completed the LONG TERM study (receiving alirocumab 150 mg every 2 weeks [Q2W]) were eligible to enroll in OLE (n = 214) for up to 40 months' treatment duration.