Background: Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease due to its unique apo(a) component and its association with atherosclerosis and thrombogenesis. This meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the effects of PCSK9 inhibitors on major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and Lp(a) levels in patients with coronary heart disease.
Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were systematically searched in PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and other databases. Stata 15.1 software was used for data analysis, and a random- or fixed-effects model was selected based on inter-study heterogeneity. Egger's test was applied to detect publication bias.
Results: A total of 12 RCTs were included, involving 48 116 patients with a mean age of 62 years, comprising 65% males and diverse ethnic backgrounds. The results showed that compared with the control group, PCSK9 inhibitors significantly reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (WMD = -1.24 mmol/L, 95% confidence interval (CI): -1.28 to -1.20), total cholesterol, triglycerides, and Lp(a) levels while increasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. In terms of safety, there was no increased risk of adverse reactions other than injection site reactions. For MACE, PCSK9 inhibitors significantly reduced the risk of nonfatal myocardial infarction, stroke, and coronary revascularization events (RR = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.84-0.89).
Conclusion: PCSK9 inhibitors not only significantly improve blood lipid profiles and reduce Lp(a) levels but also reduce the risk of MACE in patients with coronary heart disease. Therefore, PCSK9 inhibitors offer an effective and safe treatment option for these patients.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MCA.0000000000001464 | DOI Listing |
Biomark Res
December 2024
Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Shandong, 250021, China.
Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) was first reported in 2003 and confirmed to be strongly associated with familial hypercholesterolemia. Small-molecule inhibitors targeting PCSK9 provide an effective and safe method for managing hypercholesterolemia and reducing the cardiovascular risk. In recent years, increasing evidence has indicated other important roles for PCSK9 in inflammation, tumors, and even immune regulation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Rep
December 2024
Department of Cardiology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
This study evaluated the management of dyslipidemia in Turkey with the goal of understanding current diagnosis and treatment patterns, as well as identifying unmet needs in achieving effective low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) targets. Using a Delphi panel consisting of nine expert cardiologists, the study reveals key gaps in dyslipidemia management, particularly in the underutilization of combination therapies, such as statins and PCSK9 inhibitors, which are crucial for achieving LDL-C targets in high-risk patients. The findings indicate that while many patients with very high cardiovascular risk are diagnosed, a significant proportion do not receive optimal treatment to reach LDL-C levels recommended by European guidelines.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEur Heart J Cardiovasc Pharmacother
December 2024
Vorarlberg Institute for Vascular Investigation and Treatment (VIVIT), Vorarlberg, Austria.
Objectives: This review aims to examine the evidence on the benefits and risks of lipid lowering drugs in patients with liver disease. Elevated liver enzyme levels often lead to cautious discontinuation of these drugs, potentially withholding from patients their benefit in reducing cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality.
Methods And Results: Using a literature search of PubMed, we examine the efficacy and safety profiles of various lipid lowering agents, including statins, ezetimibe, bempedoic acid, PCSK9 inhibitors, fibrates, and icosapent ethyl, focusing particularly on their potential side effects related to liver health.
Arch Dermatol Res
December 2024
Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, Shannxi, China.
Lipid metabolism disorders are frequently noted in atopic dermatitis (AD) patients, prompting the long-term use of lipid-lowering drugs. However, the causal effects of circulating lipids and different lipid-lowering drugs on the risk of AD are not thoroughly understood. Using publicly available genome-wide association studies (GWAS) summary data from two different cohorts, a series of Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses were conducted to explore the causal effects of genetically proxied circulating lipids and lipid-lowering drugs on the risk of AD.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNEJM Evid
January 2025
TIMI Study Group, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston.
Background: Concerns persist regarding the cognitive safety of achieving very low levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Although short-term studies are reassuring, the long-term cognitive effects of sustained exposure to very low LDL cholesterol levels through combined proprotein convertase subtilisin-kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibition and statin therapy remain unknown.
Methods: This prospective study enrolled a subset of adults with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease who had completed a neurocognitive substudy (EBBINGHAUS) of a placebo-controlled randomized trial of evolocumab (FOURIER) and were eligible for a long-term open-label extension.
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