Association of Lipoprotein(a) With Changes in Coronary Atherosclerosis in Patients Treated With Alirocumab.

Background: Elevated Lp(a) (lipoprotein[a]) is a risk marker for atherosclerotic disease, but the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. We examined the association of Lp(a) with changes in coronary atherosclerosis following intensive lipid-lowering therapy.

Methods: In the PACMAN-AMI trial (Effects of the PCSK9 Antibody Alirocumab on Coronary Atherosclerosis in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction), 300 patients with acute myocardial infarction were randomized to receive biweekly alirocumab 150 mg or placebo in addition to high-intensity statins.

Lesion-Level Effects of LDL-C-Lowering Therapy in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Post Hoc Analysis of the PACMAN-AMI Trial.

Importance: Previous studies investigated atherosclerotic changes induced by lipid-lowering therapy in extensive coronary segments irrespective of baseline disease burden (a vessel-level approach).

Objective: To investigate the effects of lipid-lowering therapy on coronary lesions with advanced atherosclerotic plaque features and presumably higher risk for future events.

Design, Setting, And Participants: The PACMAN-AMI randomized clinical trial (enrollment: May 2017 to October 2020; final follow-up: October 2021) randomized patients with acute myocardial infarction to receive alirocumab or placebo in addition to high-intensity statin therapy.

Obesity and cardiovascular disease: an ESC clinical consensus statement.

The global prevalence of obesity has more than doubled over the past four decades, currently affecting more than a billion individuals. Beyond its recognition as a high-risk condition that is causally linked to many chronic illnesses, obesity has been declared a disease per se that results in impaired quality of life and reduced life expectancy. Notably, two-thirds of obesity-related excess mortality is attributable to cardiovascular disease.

Obesity and cardiovascular disease: an ESC clinical consensus statement.

The global prevalence of obesity has more than doubled over the past four decades, currently affecting more than a billion individuals. Beyond its recognition as a high-risk condition that is causally linked to many chronic illnesses, obesity has been declared a disease per se that results in impaired quality of life and reduced life expectancy. Notably, two-thirds of obesity-related excess mortality is attributable to cardiovascular disease.

The future of education in Preventive Cardiology: a statement of the European Association of Preventive Cardiology of the European Society of Cardiology.

In recent years, major advances in our understanding of risk factors implicated in the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD), in available tools for early detection of CVD, and in effective interventions to prevent subclinical or clinically manifest disease, have led to an increasing appreciation of prevention as a major pillar of cardiovascular (CV) medicine. Preventive Cardiology has evolved into a dynamic sub-speciality focused on the promotion of CV health through all stages of life, and on the management of individuals at risk of developing CVD or experiencing recurrent CV events, through interdisciplinary care in different settings. As the level of knowledge, specialized skills, experience, and committed attitudes related to CV prevention has exceeded core cardiology training, the European Association of Preventive Cardiology (EAPC) has placed major emphasis on continuous education and training of physicians and allied professionals involved in CV prevention, with the aim of setting standards for practice and improving quality of care.

Effects of alirocumab on endothelial function and coronary atherosclerosis in myocardial infarction: A PACMAN-AMI randomized clinical trial substudy.

Background And Aims: The effects of protein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors on endothelial function as assessed by flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are unknown. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effects of the PCSK9 inhibitor alirocumab added to high-intensity statin on FMD, and its association with coronary atherosclerosis in non-infarct related arteries using intracoronary intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), and optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Methods: This was a pre-specified substudy among patients recruited at Bern University Hospital, Switzerland, for the randomized-controlled, double-blind, PACMAN-AMI trial, which compared the effects of biweekly alirocumab 150 mg vs.

Cardiovascular disease as part of Long COVID: A systematic review.

Background: Long COVID syndrome has had a major impact on million patients' lives worldwide. The cardiovascular system is an important aspect of this multifaceted disease that may manifest in many ways. We have hereby performed a narrative review in order to identify the extent of the cardiovascular manifestations of the Long COVID syndrome.

Effects of SARS-COV-2 infection on outcomes in patients hospitalized for acute cardiac conditions. A prospective, multicenter cohort study (Swiss Cardiovascular SARS-CoV-2 Consortium).

Background: Although the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) primarily affects the respiratory system, the disease entity has been associated with cardiovascular complications. This study sought to assess the effect of concomitant SARS-COV-2 infection on clinical outcomes of patients hospitalized primarily for acute cardiac conditions on cardiology wards in Switzerland.

Methods: In this prospective, observational study conducted in 5 Swiss cardiology centers during the COVID-19 pandemic, patients hospitalized due to acute cardiac conditions underwent a reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction test at the time of admission and were categorized as SARS-COV-2 positive (cases) or negative (controls).

[LDL-Lowering Drugs: What Are the Options In 2023?].

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading causes of death worldwide, claiming an estimated 17.9 million lives each year. There is a dose-dependent relationship between the absolute extent of exposure of the vascular system to low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) and the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Concomitant Coronary Atheroma Regression and Stabilization in Response to Lipid-Lowering Therapy.

Background: The frequency, characteristics, and outcomes of patients treated with high-intensity lipid-lowering therapy and showing concomitant atheroma volume reduction, lipid content reduction, and increase in fibrous cap thickness (ie, triple regression) are unknown.

Objectives: This study was designed to investigate rates, determinants, and prognostic implications of triple regression in patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction and treated with high-intensity lipid-lowering therapy.

Methods: The PACMAN-AMI (Effects of the PCSK9 Antibody Alirocumab on Coronary Atherosclerosis in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction) trial used serial intravascular ultrasound, near-infrared spectroscopy, and optical coherence tomography to compare the effects of alirocumab vs placebo in patients receiving high-intensity statin therapy.

Effect of Alirocumab Added to High-Intensity Statin on Platelet Reactivity and Noncoding RNAs in Patients with AMI: A Substudy of the PACMAN-AMI Trial.

Objective:  The effect of the PCSK9 (proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9) inhibitor alirocumab on platelet aggregation among patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remains unknown. We aimed to explore the effect of alirocumab added to high-intensity statin therapy on P2Y12 reaction unit (PRU) among AMI patients receiving dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with a potent P2Y12 inhibitor (ticagrelor or prasugrel). In addition, we assessed circulating platelet-derived noncoding RNAs (microRNAs and YRNAs).

Effect of High-Intensity Statin Therapy on Atherosclerosis (IBIS-4): Manual Versus Automated Methods of IVUS Analysis.

Aims: Standard manual analysis of IVUS to study the impact of anti-atherosclerotic therapies on the coronary vessel wall is done by a core laboratory (CL), the ground truth (GT). Automatic segmentation of IVUS with a machine learning (ML) algorithm has the potential to replace manual readings with an unbiased and reproducible method. The aim is to determine if results from a CL can be replicated with ML methods.

Transient injection site reaction to alirocumab during immune system activation: a case series.

Background: Injection site reactions (ISRs) are known side effects of the proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor alirocumab. Transient ISR to alirocumab after a long phase of good tolerability have not been reported previously.

Case Summary: A 55-year-old woman (Patient 1) and a 77-year-old man (Patient 2) were treated with alirocumab for the management of dyslipidaemia.

Effect of Alirocumab Added to High-Intensity Statin Therapy on Coronary Atherosclerosis in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction: The PACMAN-AMI Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Coronary plaques that are prone to rupture and cause adverse cardiac events are characterized by large plaque burden, large lipid content, and thin fibrous caps. Statins can halt the progression of coronary atherosclerosis; however, the effect of the proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 inhibitor alirocumab added to statin therapy on plaque burden and composition remains largely unknown.

Objective: To determine the effects of alirocumab on coronary atherosclerosis using serial multimodality intracoronary imaging in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Effectiveness, Adherence, and Safety of Evolocumab in a Swiss Multicenter Prospective Observational Study.

Introduction: The aims of this study were to describe patient characteristics, lipid parameters, lipid-lowering drug use, and safety of patients receiving evolocumab in a real-world clinical setting.

Methods: We conducted a 1-year multicenter observational study of adults using evolocumab with confirmed atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) or at high cardiovascular risk, and elevated LDL-C despite maximally tolerated statin doses. An e-health application optionally supported patient management.