News
FDA gives nod to alirocumab, evolocumab: PCSK9 Forum Ed Board response
At meetings of the Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee (EMDAC) of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Committee recommended approval of the PCSK9 monoclonal antibodies alirocumab and evolocumab. On the 9thJune the Committee voted 13 to 3 in favour of alirocumab, and…
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Consider FH in young heart attack patients
New data from EUROASPIRE IV shows that about one in 12 heart attack patients have probable familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH, inherited high cholesterol). FH prevalence was even higher in those aged <50 years, affecting one in 5 patients. FH is a common inherited hypercholesterolaemia, with heterozygous…
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Glucose homeostasis and PCSK9 deficiency: DESIR provides reassurance
Findings from the Data from an Epidemiological Study on the Insulin Resistance Syndrome (DESIR) prospective study show that PCSK9 deficiency is not associated with impaired glucose homeostasis in humans. This has been an area of contention, after experimental studies showed that PCSK9 is expressed in…
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FH in Africa and the Middle East – the great unknown
Why we need a global initiative on FH: FH Connect: Prof Derick Raal, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa Expert consensus has already highlighted the extent of underdiagnosis and undertreatment of familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH, inherited high cholesterol), which if untreated increases the lifetime risk…
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ISA 2015: Alirocumab treatment well accepted by patients and clinicians
While injectable treatment is common among some specialities, this is not the case among clinicians managing patients with dyslipidaemia. PCSK9 monoclonal antibody, which is injected subcutaneously every 2 or 4 weeks, is undoubtedly effective in the management of high cardiovascular risk patients with elevated low-density…
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ISA 2015: PCSK9 inhibitors effective in mixed dyslipidaemia
Treatment with evolocumab or alirocumab was as effective in high risk patients with mixed dyslipidaemia, as in patients solely with elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, according to two reports at ISA 2015. Dr Kees Hovingh, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands discussed data from an…
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ISA 2015: Evolocumab in TAUSSIG homozygous FH cohort
News from one of the largest cohort of patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH, inherited high cholesterol) in the TAUSSIG (Trial Assessing Long-Term Use of PCSK9 Inhibition in Subjects With Genetic LDL Disorders) study strengthens the data for evolocumab.1 In 100 patients with homozygous FH,…
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ISA 2015: EAS Consensus Panel publishes Position Statement on Paediatric Familial Hypercholesterolaemia
The European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS) Consensus Panel has today published a new position paper aiming to raise awareness of the urgent need to identify and treat children with familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) early. The EAS Consensus Panel position paper also provides clinical guidance for the diagnosis…
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Take account of Lp(a) in the PCSK9 era
What is measured in ‘LDL cholesterol’ includes the cholesterol content of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)-C]. In some patients, this can contribute about 30-45% to measured LDL cholesterol levels as a percentage of its mass. The authors raise the relevance of this issue in this review, given that…
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Lipoprotein apheresis halves PCSK9 levels
Lipoprotein apheresis is an option for the management of patients with severe hypercholesterolaemia, including those with familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH, inherited high cholesterol), who are inadequately controlled with current pharmacotherapy. In this cohort study, serum PCSK9 levels were measured in 40 patients undergoing lipoprotein apheresis and…
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Phytosterols do not influence PCSK9 levels
Foods with added plant sterols/stanols (commonly referred to as phytosterols) lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels by between 8-10% when taken at 2 g/day. Consequently clinical guidelines and expert consensus suggest that these functional food may have a role in managing LDL cholesterol across the…
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Type 2 diabetes: No change in PCSK9 levels with ezetimibe
There has been concern that concomitant treatment with other agents that lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol may blunt the effects of treatment with a PCSK9 inhibitor due to upregulation of PCSK9 expression. However, a recent report1 has shown that this is not the case for…
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EAS HoFH Consensus Statement: Spanish Society of Arteriosclerosis and Familial Hypercholesterolaemia Foundation responds
The recent European Atherosclerosis Society Consensus Panel Statement on Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH) has been welcomed by the Spanish Society of Atherosclerosis (SEA) and Familial Hypercholesterolaemia Foundation (FHF). However, recognising that there are local issues, the SEA and FHF has produced a document specific for Spain….
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FH in Argentina: Why the European Atherosclerosis Society FH Studies Collaboration (EAS-FHSC) is key
PCSK9 Forum caught up with Dr Pablo Corral, ICM Institute Medical Clinic, Buenos Aires, Argentina during the 83rd European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS) Congress in Glasgow, Scotland. The status of FH management in Argentina has improved over the last 2 years. There has been a new…
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Statin Associated Muscle Symptoms – a role for PCSK9 inhibitors? Professor Erik Stroes, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands comments
The latest European Atherosclerosis Society Consensus Panel focused on statin associated muscle symptoms (SAMS),1 which at present accounts for up to 40% of referrals to specialised lipid clinics. The veracity of SAMS has been questioned given the apparent discrepancy between findings from clinical trials and…
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EAS 2015: Climbing stairs at work lowers PCSK9
Regular physical activity is recommended as one of the key lifestyle strategies underpinning cardiovascular disease prevention. Much of the benefit has been ascribed to lowering of triglycerides and raising high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. While studies vary, there is also some evidence to suggest benefit of…
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EAS 2015: PCSK9 inhibitors effective with high-intensity statins
High-intensity statins are indicated in patients with or at high risk of cardiovascular disease. However, even with maximally tolerated doses, the majority fail to achieve guideline-recommended low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol goal. Recent data from EUROASPIRE IV, a survey of secondary prevention care across Europe, show…
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European Atherosclerosis Society Consensus Panel on statin-associated muscle symptoms: Professor Erik Stroes, Academic Medical Center, the Netherlands
PCSK9 Forum caught up with Professor Stroes at the 83rd Congress of the European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS), Glasgow 22-25 March, 2015 to discuss this recent EAS Consensus Panel paper. Statin-associated muscle symptoms (SAMS) were very much the hot topic at EAS Glasgow, reflecting the high…
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Statins and muscle symptoms: New EAS Consensus Panel statement
The European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS) Consensus Panel has published new guidance on the diagnosis, assessment and treatment of statin-associated muscle symptoms (SAMS). Unique to this statement is an overview of current understanding of the pathophysiology of statin myopathy. Without doubt, statins are the therapeutic cornerstone…
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EAS Glasgow: Familial hypercholesterolaemia: A Call to Action from the European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS)
Worldwide less than 1% of patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) – inherited high cholesterol – are diagnosed and only a minority are optimally treated.1 This is despite recent research showing that FH is not rare but among the most common of autosomal dominant inherited conditions;…
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