News

Overturning the 1%…Bridging the gaps in care

2014 FH Global Summit: 13-14 October, New York, USA: Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is a major clinical challenge for the 21st century. The European Atherosclerosis Society Consensus Panel has already made the case for FH being one of the most common inherited conditions, affecting about one…

Mind the Gap: How can we address the challenges in FH?

2014 FH Global Summit: 13-14 October, New York, USA Screening for FH needs new impetus. Family history and an elevated LDL-C are the two key screening criteria for suspected FH. The obvious role for screening for suspected FH lies with primary care. Insights from the…

Highlights Report: 2014 FH Global Summit

The FH Global Summit offers a unique opportunity for all players in the healthcare arena, academia, government and patient advocacy groups, to act together to catalyse progress in FH care. Sooner not later: Children are the driver for improving FH care Top of the agenda…

Rationale for TESLA and results

Low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) can be significantly reduced in patients with a serious genetic disorder – homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) – when a PCSK9 inhibitor evolocumab is added to statins and other lipid-lowering medications. Professor Frederick Raal explains the results of the TESLA study.

Take home messages from ACC2014

Results of studies presented in 2014, show that PCSK9 inhibitors: 1) very effectively reduce low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C); and 2) show consistently predictable safety profiles. The positive results of short-term studies are now being reported in longer terms and larger clinical studies, Dr Evan…

Unmet clinical needs in cholesterol lowering

Recent decades has seen marked improvement in reducing rates of heart disease and stroke (cardiovascular disease), particularly in developed nations.1 High levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), or ‘bad cholesterol’ are considered a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. International guidelines state that reduction of…

PCSK9 inhibition

A raised level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is one of the most important risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Despite success in recent decades in lowering LDL-C with statins and other lipid-lowering drugs, considerable risk remains for future cardiovascular events even in people who are…

Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH)

Why is cholesterol important? Cholesterol, with other fats such as triglycerides, plays a vital role in the structure and function of cells. However, too much cholesterol in the blood (hypercholesterolaemia) is a risk factor for early heart disease, heart attack and stroke. Cholesterol is transported…

Why is it critical to target children with FH?

Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is the most common genetic disorder in the world. People with FH have high levels of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) resulting in a high risk of premature and sudden death. Now early diagnosis and treatment can save lives, says Dr Albert…

Professor Gerald Watts discusses the 10 countries project in FH

The International Atherosclerosis Society has begun a study in Asia and the Pacific Rim to provide the first comprehensive investigation of the worlds commonest genetic disorder, familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) in the region. FH results in very high levels of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and…

Unmet needs in children with FH

Identification and treatment to reduce low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) of children with familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is vital to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death in early adulthood. FH is the most common genetic disorder in the world. Parents and healthcare professionals need to be…

PCSK9 inhibition: lipid-modifying benefits beyond LDL-C lowering

Recent evidence indicates that PCSK9 also modulates the metabolism of triglyceride-rich apolipoprotein B (apoB) lipoproteins, another important coronary heart disease risk factor. This suggests that PCSK9-targeted therapies may also have a role in the management of postprandial hypertriglyceridaemia, highly relevant in obese individuals. To investigate…

PCSK9 variants associated with cerebral ischaemic stroke in Han Chinese

PCSK9 variants have been previously linked with risk for cerebrovascular disease in Caucasian populations.1 Given the propensity for stroke in Asians, notably the Chinese,2 the current study investigated whether PCSK9 variants may be implicated with risk for stroke in the Han Chinese population. The study…

R46L variant: an important modifier of the FH phenotype?

Carriage of the PCSK9 R46L loss of function mutation in FH patients appears to counteract the effects of FH-causing LDL receptor mutations, leading an improved phenotype and protection against coronary heart disease. 46L is the most common occurring in exon 1 of the PCSK9 gene,…

Very low LDL-C levels and risk for haemorrhagic complications after ischaemic stroke: should we be worried with PCSK9-targeted therapy?

Results from this experimental model suggests that PCSK9 inhibition is unlikely to increase the risk of haemorrhagic complications after ischaemic stroke. Haemorrhagic transformation, a spectrum of ischaemia-related brain haemorrhage, is a complication of acute ischaemic stroke that occurs in 10-40% of patients, and is associated…

Do PCSK9 loss of function mutations have direct effects on atherogenesis?

Identification of PCSK9 loss of function (LOF) mutations has been a key driver for the development of PCSK9-targeted therapies. LOF mutations in the PCSK9 gene lead to an increase in the number of LDL receptors on the surface of liver cells, resulting in an increase…

ODYSSEY long term

Low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) was reduced by 60% in patients treated an investigational PCSK9 inhibitor, Alirocumab in addition to statin therapy, for about 52 weeks in the ODYSSEY study. The lead investigator, Professor Jennifer Robinson discusses how this was translated into a reduction in…

What are the gaps in knowledge about the PCSK9 inhibitors

ODYSSEY FH and patient unmet needs

Less than 1% of people with familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH), the commonest genetic disorder in the world are diagnosed. As FH patients have significantly elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) their consequent risk of cardiovascular death is greatly increased. Therefore, the results of the ODYSSEY…

ODYSSEY FHI FHII

Fewer than 80% of familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) patients achieved an LDL-C level of