Brian Ference Articles
PCSK9 inhibition and ischaemic stroke: genetic and clinical studies differ
PCSK9 variants that confer life-long lower levels of PCSK9 and LDL cholesterol were associated with a lower risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) but not ischaemic stroke. This contrasts with findings from the FOURIER (Further Cardiovascular Outcomes Research With PCSK9 Inhibition in Subjects With Elevated…
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What can we learn from Mendelian randomisation about the impact of lipid lowering on CVD and risk of dysglycaemia?
The design of Mendelian randomization studies, i.e. ‘naturally randomized trials’, is critical to anticipate results of randomised controlled trials in lipid lowering, as well as inform about potential adverse effects. Here Professor Brian Ference (Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, USA) discusses how insights…
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Dr Brian Ference sets the record straight on questions about benefit in FOURIER
In discussions at ACC.2017, some have suggested that the results of FOURIER were less than anticipated from the meta-analysis of statin trials by the Cholesterol Treatment Trialists’ Collaboration (CTTC) (1). PCSK9 Forum Editor Dr Brian Ference (Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Wayne State University School of…
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Does the mechanism of lowering LDL cholesterol matter? Insights from recent Mendelian Randomization studies
Meta-analyses of numerous randomized trials have demonstrated that lowering low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase (HMGCR) with a statin reduces the risk of major cardiovascular events by approximately 20% for each mmol/L lower LDL cholesterol.1 However, several randomized trials have failed to…
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