Practical guide for the use of PCSK9 inhibitors in Portugal (original) (raw)
Related papers
Disadvantages of Current LDL-cholesterol Lowering and the Role of PCSK9 Inhibitors
Cardiologia Croatica, 2016
SAŽETAK: LDL kolesterol (LDL-K) snažan je nezavisni čimbenik kardiovaskularnog (KV) rizika na koji je moguće utjecati. Statini su danas terapija izbora u postizanju ciljnih vrijednosti LDL-K-a. Iako su u kontroliranim kliničkim ispitivanjima dokazano učinkoviti i sigurni, u praksi se često susrećemo s nepodnošenjem statina, a u značajnog dijela bolesnika i nepostizanjem ciljnih vrijednosti LDL-K-a unatoč maksimalnim dozama. U bolesnika s visokim i vrlo visokim KV rizikom i preostala eulipemijska farmakoterapija često nije dostatna. Inhibitori PCSK9 (PCSK9-I) novi su, revolucionarni lijekovi s potentnim učinkom na LDL-K. Brzi razvoj PCSK9-I-a započeo je 2003. godine otkrićem mutacije gena PCSK9 u bolesnika s porodičnom hiperkolesterolemijom. Produkt tog gena, enzim proprotein konvertaza subtilizin/keksin tip 9 (PCSK9) ima važnu ulogu u regulaciji ekspresije LDL receptora i u metabolizmu kolesterola. Istraživanjima na životinjama dokazano je da inaktivacija PCSK9 gena snizuje LDL-K s regresijom aterosklerotskih promjena aorte. Heterozigoti i homozigoti s inaktivirajućom mutacijom gena PCSK9 imaju niske vrijednosti LDL-K-a i manju pojavnost ateroskleroze. Među različitim skupinama PCSK9-I-a, snažan razvoj doživjela su monoklonska protutijela (alirokumab, evolokumab i bokocizumab). Klinička ispitivanja treće faze porodične i primarne hiperkolesterolemije sa statinskom intolerancijom ili rezistencijom pokazala su snažan povoljan učinak alirokumaba i evolokumaba na LDL-K (sniženje od 60 %), uz visoku sigurnost i dobru podnošljivost. OSLER studija s evolokumabom dokazala je i povoljne učinke na KV ishode. U tijeku je više kliničkih pokusa različitih PCSK9-I-a, u kojima se prati njihov učinak na KV pobol i smrtnost. Pozitivni rezultati tih studija potvrdili bi veliki potencijal PCSK9-I-a u boljoj prevenciji i liječenju KV bolesti. SUMMARY: LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) is a strong independent cardiovascular (CV) risk factor that can be easily influenced. Today, statins are the therapy of choice for the achievement of target LDL-C values. Although controlled clinical trials have demonstrated their effectiveness and safety, in practice we are often met with statin intolerance as well as a failure to achieve target LDL-C values in a significant portion of the patients despite maximal doses. In patients with high and very high CV risk, other antilipemic pharmacotherapy is often also insufficient. PCSK9 inhibitors (PCSK9-I) are new revolutionary drugs with a potent effect on LDL-C. The rapid development of PCSK9-I began in 2003 with the discovery of a PCSK9 gene mutation in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia. The product of this gene, proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), has an important role in the expression of LDL receptors and cholesterol metabolism. Animal models demonstrated that inactivation of the PCSK9 gene lowers LDL-C with regression of atherosclerotic changes in the aorta. Heterozygotes and homozygotes with the inactivation mutation of PCSK9 have lower LDL-C values and lower incidence of atherosclerosis. Among the various groups of PCSK9-I, monoclonal antibodies saw strong development (alirocumab, evolocumab, bococizumab). Phase 3 clinical trials on familial and primary hypercholesterolemia with statin intolerance or resistance have demonstrated a strong positive effect of alirocumab and evolocumab on LDL-C values (a reduction of 60%), with high safety and good tolerability. The OSLER study on evolocumab also demonstrated positive effects on CV outcomes. Multiple clinical trials on PCSK9-I are currently monitoring their effect on CV morbidity and mortality. Positive results from these studies would confirm the great potential of PCSK9-I for better prevention and treatment of CV diseases.
Journal of lipids, 2018
PCSK9 inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, are novel antihypercholesterolemic drugs. FDA first approved them in July 2015. PCSK9 protein (692-amino acids) was discovered in 2003. It plays a major role in LDL receptor degradation and is a prominent modulator in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) metabolism. PCSK9 inhibitors are monoclonal antibodies that target PCSK9 protein in liver and inhibiting this protein leads to drastically lowering harmful LDL-C level in the bloodstream. Despite widespread use of the statin, not all the high-risk patients were able to achieve targeted level of LDL-C. Using PCSK9 inhibitors could lead to a substantial decrement in LDL-C plasma level ranging from 50% to 70%, either as a monotherapy or on top of statins. A large number of trials have shown robust reduction of LDL-C plasma level with the use of PCSK9 inhibitors as a monotherapy or in combination with statins in familial and nonfamilial forms of hypercholesterolemia. Moreover, PCSK9 inhibi...
European Heart Journal, 2019
Background Hypercholesterolaemia is common in patients after cardiac transplantation. Monoclonal antibodies that inhibit proprotein convertase subtilisin-kexin type 9 (PCSK9) reduce lowdensity lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels and subsequently the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with dyslipidaemia. There are no published data on the effect of this medication class on cholesterol levels in patients after cardiac transplantation. Methods In this retrospective study we investigated patients who were treated with PCSK9 inhibitors either because of intolerance of statins or residual hypercholesterolaemia with evidence of cardiac allograft vasculopathy. We compared the data of patients prior to the start with these medications with their most recent dataset. Results Ten patients (nine men; mean age 58±6 years) underwent cardiac transplantation 8.3±4.5 (range 3-15) years ago. The treatment duration of Evolocumab or Alirocumab was on average 296±125 days and lead to a reduction of total Cholesterol (281±52 mg/dl to 197±36 mg/ dl; p = 0.002) and LDL Cholesterol (170±22 mg/dl to 101±39 mg/dl; p = 0.001). No significant effects on HDL Cholesterol, BNP, Creatin Kinase or hepatic enzymes were noticed. There were no unplanned hospitalisations, episodes of rejections, change of ejection fraction or opportunistic infections. Both patients on Alirocumab developed liver pathologies: One patient died of hepatocellular carcinoma and the other developed hepatitis E. Conclusions Our study demonstrates that the PCSK9 inhibitors Evolocumab and Alirocumab lead to a significant reduction of LDL Cholesterol in heart transplantation recipients. No effect on
Cardiovascular Drugs and Therapy
Aim The PERI-DYS study aims to characterize two groups of patients with dyslipidaemia at very high CV risk: PCSK9i receivers and patients qualifying for but not receiving PCSK9i. Methods This is an observational study by office-based and clinic-based physicians, mainly cardiologists and other internists in Germany, with data extracted from patient charts. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT03110432. Results A total of 1659 patients were enrolled across 70 sites. The majority of patients (91.0%) were reported as having mixed dyslipidaemia or non-familial or heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. At enrolment, 794 (47.9%) of patients were PCSK9i receivers (of these 65.9% ongoing, and 34.1% newly treated within 30 days before their baseline visit). Among PCSK9i receivers, the majority had evolocumab 140 mg (n = 632, 38.1% of total). PCSK9i receivers compared to non-receivers were about 2 years younger and had a lower proportion of males. In terms of comorbidities, they had (statisti...
Lipids in health and disease, 2016
LDL cholesterol (LDLC) lowering has been revolutionized by PCSK9 inhibitors, Alirocumab (Praluent) and Evolocumab (Repatha), approved as adjuncts to maximally tolerated cholesterol lowering therapy in heterozygous (HeFH) or homozygous (HoFH) familial hypercholesterolemia, and/or clinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) where LDLC lowering is insufficient. We applied FDA and insurance eligibility criteria for PCSK9 inhibitor use in 734 hypercholesterolemic patients serially referred over 3 years who then received ≥ 2 months maximally tolerated LDLC lowering therapy with follow up LDLC ≥ 70 mg/dl, and in 50 patients approved by insurance for PCSK9 inhibitors. We documented the percentage of patients with HeFH and/or CVD who met FDA and insurance criteria for PCSK9 inhibitor therapy using LDLC goal-based guidelines. Of 734 patients with LDLC ≥ 70 mg/dl after ≥ 2 months maximally tolerated LDLC lowering therapy, 220 (30 %) had HeFH and/or CVD with LDLC > 100 mg/dl, meeti...
PCSK9 inhibitors in clinical practice: Delivering on the promise?
Atherosclerosis
Background and aims: In clinical trials, protein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors robustly lowered LDL-cholesterol (LDL-c) and had a favorable tolerability and safety profile. Based on these findings, PCSK9 inhibitors are incorporated in updates of clinical treatment guidelines. However, trial results do not necessarily predict the effectiveness under real-world conditions. The aim of the current study is to determine the efficacy and tolerability of PCSK9 inhibitors in routine outpatient care. Methods: The cohort comprised all patients who were prescribed evolocumab or alirocumab at the outpatient clinic of a large university hospital in the Netherlands. Eligible patients required additional lipid-lowering despite maximally tolerated statin therapy and ezetimibe, or were statin intolerant. Data were systematically collected during routine outpatient visits. Results: The study included 238 patients of whom 67.2% had familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and 42.9% were statin intolerant. The mean LDL-c reduction was 55.0% from a baseline of 4.4 mmol/L. LDL-c goals were attained by 62.3% of patients. Side effects were reported by 15.5% of patients and 2.5% discontinued treatment. No meaningful differences in efficacy or tolerability were observed between patients with FH or statin intolerance, or across treatment regimens. Conclusions: The observed lipid reductions and side effects profile of PCSK9 inhibitors in a routine care setting were comparable to observations in clinical trials.
BMJ
Clinical questionIn adults with low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels >1.8 mmol/L (>70 mg/dL) who are already taking the maximum dose of statins or are intolerant to statins, should another lipid-lowering drug be added, either a proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor or ezetimibe, to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events? If so, which drug is preferred? Having decided to use one, should we add the other lipid-lowering drug?Current practiceMost guidelines emphasise LDL cholesterol targets in their recommendations for prescribing PCSK9 inhibitors and/or ezetimibe in adults at high risk of experiencing a major adverse cardiovascular event. However, to achieve these goals in very high risk patients with statins alone is almost impossible, so physicians are increasingly considering other lipid-lowering drugs solely for achieving LDL cholesterol treatment goals rather than for achieving important absolute cardiovascular risk reduction. Most gu...
Atherosclerosis, 2019
Background Hypercholesterolaemia is common in patients after cardiac transplantation. Monoclonal antibodies that inhibit proprotein convertase subtilisin-kexin type 9 (PCSK9) reduce lowdensity lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels and subsequently the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with dyslipidaemia. There are no published data on the effect of this medication class on cholesterol levels in patients after cardiac transplantation. Methods In this retrospective study we investigated patients who were treated with PCSK9 inhibitors either because of intolerance of statins or residual hypercholesterolaemia with evidence of cardiac allograft vasculopathy. We compared the data of patients prior to the start with these medications with their most recent dataset. Results Ten patients (nine men; mean age 58±6 years) underwent cardiac transplantation 8.3±4.5 (range 3-15) years ago. The treatment duration of Evolocumab or Alirocumab was on average 296±125 days and lead to a reduction of total Cholesterol (281±52 mg/dl to 197±36 mg/ dl; p = 0.002) and LDL Cholesterol (170±22 mg/dl to 101±39 mg/dl; p = 0.001). No significant effects on HDL Cholesterol, BNP, Creatin Kinase or hepatic enzymes were noticed. There were no unplanned hospitalisations, episodes of rejections, change of ejection fraction or opportunistic infections. Both patients on Alirocumab developed liver pathologies: One patient died of hepatocellular carcinoma and the other developed hepatitis E. Conclusions Our study demonstrates that the PCSK9 inhibitors Evolocumab and Alirocumab lead to a significant reduction of LDL Cholesterol in heart transplantation recipients. No effect on