Already a member? Become a member Register
PCSK9 Forum

rss LinkedIn News
rss LinkedIn Latest News Updates

LDL-cholesterol

‘Game changing’ management of LDL-C

‘Game changing’ management of LDL-C

Professor Steven Nicholls, Professor of Cardiology at the University of Adelaide, Australia, explores the future management of patients with elevated low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and the new treatment options which will be available to clinicians.

read more »
Highest risk-highest benefit from PCSK9 inhibition

Highest risk-highest benefit from PCSK9 inhibition

Using a pragmatic approach, experts have recommended a ‘highest risk–highest benefit’ strategy for clinicians considering PCSK9 inhibitor treatment for their patients. This takes into account the clinical need, outcome benefit and cost of the PCSK9 inhibitors. Briefly, ‘highest risk’ refers to patients with the highest…

read more »
New WOSCOPS analysis: Treat – don’t wait – if high LDL-C without heart disease

New WOSCOPS analysis: Treat – don’t wait – if high LDL-C without heart disease

This important study confirms and supports the benefit of LDL cholesterol lowering with statin therapy for the primary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), especially in individuals with LDL cholesterol levels above 190 mg/dl (~5 mmol/L). ‘We need to start early and to treat more…

read more »
PlayWill CANTOS and REVEAL change how we view the clinical use of PCSK9 inhibitors?

Will CANTOS and REVEAL change how we view the clinical use of PCSK9 inhibitors?

Prof Anthony Wierzbicki, New Associate Editor of PCSK9 Forum discusses Atherosclerosis has long been recognised as a chronic inflammatory disease, where low-density lipoproteins (LDL) interact with both innate and adaptive immunity mechanisms. However, while inflammatory infiltration by circulating white blood cells is an important part…

read more »
Does PCSK9 inhibition have effects beyond lipid lowering?

Does PCSK9 inhibition have effects beyond lipid lowering?

While retention of LDL within the arterial wall is critical in the initiation of atherosclerosis (1), the immune/inflammatory component should not be discounted. Indeed, migration of monocytes into the arterial wall contributes to arterial inflammation and atherosclerosis progression. This might suggest that intensive reduction of…

read more »
No increase in dementia risk with low LDL cholesterol levels due to genetic variants

No increase in dementia risk with low LDL cholesterol levels due to genetic variants

There has been controversy regarding a possible link between low LDL cholesterol levels and risk for neurological disease given that cholesterol is a major constituent of the myelin encircling neurons in the brain. The results of this Mendelian randomization study, however, refutes an association between…

read more »
Are very low LDL-C levels on a PCSK9 inhibitor safe?

Are very low LDL-C levels on a PCSK9 inhibitor safe?

One of the key concerns of clinicians is whether the very low LDL cholesterol levels attained on a PCSK9 inhibitor are safe. Such concerns have been sparked by a recent meta-analysis which suggested a signal for adverse neurocognitive effects (1). These concerns were investigated in…

read more »
Is baseline PCSK9 a determinant of LDL cholesterol lowering with a PCSK9 inhibitor?

Is baseline PCSK9 a determinant of LDL cholesterol lowering with a PCSK9 inhibitor?

Is baseline PCSK9 a determinant of LDL cholesterol lowering with a PCSK9 inhibitor? This report addresses this question by investigating the association between plasma PCSK9 and the LDL cholesterol reduction attained with the PCSK9 inhibitor evolocumab. The authors evaluated pooled data from 3,016 patients (40%…

read more »
ESC Poster news: Consistent benefit with evolocumab in high and very high risk patients

ESC Poster news: Consistent benefit with evolocumab in high and very high risk patients

30th August 2016, Rome, Italy In a pooled analysis of more than 2500 patients, the LDL cholesterol lowering efficacy of evolocumab was consistent in both very high risk and high risk patients (1). The 2016 European Society of Cardiology (ESC)/European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS) guidelines categorise…

read more »
Updated Canadian Consensus on statin intolerance

Updated Canadian Consensus on statin intolerance

The availability of non-statin treatments that are effective in lowering LDL cholesterol and (may) also reduce cardiovascular events (ezetimibe, still be tested with the PCSK9 inhibitors) has been a key driver for new consensus on statin intolerance. Use of these nonstatin therapies offers the possibility…

read more »
PCSK9 inhibitors in the clinic: New analyses provide clarification on long-term treatment issues

PCSK9 inhibitors in the clinic: New analyses provide clarification on long-term treatment issues

Reports from EAS Congress provide important insights into the long-term use of PCSK9 inhibitors. Statins are the first-line therapy for LDL cholesterol lowering given indisputable evidence that this treatment reduces cardiovascular events in both men and women (1,2).  The PCSK9 inhibitors undoubtedly have proven efficacy,…

read more »
PlayLow LDL-C, PCSK9 and dementia risk?

Low LDL-C, PCSK9 and dementia risk?

An ongoing debate among the experts is whether the very low levels of LDL cholesterol with PCSK9 inhibitor treatment might be associated with neurocognitive events. In fact, the debate predates the PCSK9 inhibitors, with statins linked with cognitive impairment (1-4). However, when the statin data…

read more »
PlayChanging the message on LDL cholesterol: Lifetime exposure is key

Changing the message on LDL cholesterol: Lifetime exposure is key

84th European Atherosclerosis Society Congress, 29 May – 1 June, Innsbruck, Austria Until recently, the emphasis in clinical care has been to lower LDL cholesterol to the recommended goal, or even below these limits, as investigated with the PCSK9 inhibitors. However, in his Key Note…

read more »
PCSK9 therapy- the solution to all cardiovascular disease?

PCSK9 therapy- the solution to all cardiovascular disease?

Prof. Anthony S Wierzbicki, Department of Metabolic Medicine/Chemical Pathology, Guy’s & St Thomas’ Hospitals, London, UK discusses evidence from a number of meta-analyses of PCSK9 inhibitor treatment.  Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has multiple manifestations in different vascular beds and is driven by multiple CVD risk factors….

read more »
MONICA study: greater LDL cholesterol lowering in high-risk patients in Sweden

MONICA study: greater LDL cholesterol lowering in high-risk patients in Sweden

Trends in cholesterol levels in Sweden over the last 20 years show greater impact in individuals at high risk of cardiovascular disease, according to this report from the MONICA study. The study evaluated data from 8,941 individuals (4,546 women and 4,349 men aged 25-74 years)…

read more »
Statin response and potential benefit from PCSK9 inhibition

Statin response and potential benefit from PCSK9 inhibition

A report from the JUPITER (Justification for the Use of statins in Prevention: an Intervention Trial Evaluating Rosuvastatin) Study Group shows wide variability in the percent LDL cholesterol reduction to high-intensity statin therapy. Moreover, the cardiovascular risk reduction was directly related to percent LDL cholesterol…

read more »
PCSK9 INHIBITION: New Therapies in Cardiovascular Risk Reduction

PCSK9 INHIBITION: New Therapies in Cardiovascular Risk Reduction

3rd Edition coming! Including FOURIER and other key reports from the 66th Annual Scientific Session of the American College of Cardiology – ACC.2017 Elevated LDL cholesterol is one of most important drivers of atherosclerotic vascular disease, a primary cause of premature cardiovascular mortality and morbidity….

read more »
Looking back at 2015: what made the news?

Looking back at 2015: what made the news?

PCSK9 Forum Editors pick the highlights of PCSK9 and cholesterol research No. 1. The promise of PCSK9 inhibition may deliver in reducing cardiovascular outcomes. In concomitant reports, treatment with alirocumab or evolocumab, on top of conventional lipid lowering therapy including statin, resulted in consistent lowering…

read more »
PCSK9 inhibitors: What is the value of addressing unmet clinical needs in LDL management?

PCSK9 inhibitors: What is the value of addressing unmet clinical needs in LDL management?

No doubt the PCSK9 monoclonal antibodies are effective in lowering LDL cholesterol across the spectrum of high cardiovascular risk patients. Moreover, data from a recent meta-analysis looking at clinical outcomes with these novel treatments suggested a 50% reduction in all-cause mortality and myocardial infarction (1)….

read more »
‘High-intensity cholesterol-lowering therapy’ versus ‘high-intensity statin therapy’

‘High-intensity cholesterol-lowering therapy’ versus ‘high-intensity statin therapy’

Is it time to change the paradigm? Recent guidelines come under scrutiny from Professor Luis Masana, University Rovira and Virgili, Reus-Tarragona, Spain The 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guidelines on cholesterol management for cardiovascular disease prevention identified four groups of patients that…

read more »