A novel mouse model of familial combined hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis.

Within the context of residual cardiovascular risk in post-statin era, emerging evidence from epidemiologic and human genetic studies have demonstrated that triglyceride (TG)-rich lipoproteins and their remnants are causally related to cardiovascular risk. While, carriers of loss-of-function mutations of ApoC3 have low TG levels and are protected from cardiovascular disease (CVD). Of translational significance, siRNAs/antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) targeting ApoC3 is beneficial for patients with atherosclerotic CVD. Therefore, animal models of atherosclerosis with both hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia are important for the discovery of novel therapeutic strategies targeting TG-lowering on top of traditional cholesterol-lowering. In this study, we constructed a novel mouse model of familial combined hyperlipidemia through inserting a human ApoC3 transgene (hApoC3-Tg) into C57BL/6 J mice and injecting a gain-of-function variant of adeno-associated virus-proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (AAV-PCSK9)-D377Y concurrently with high cholesterol diet (HCD) feeding for 16 weeks. In the last 10 weeks, hApoC3-Tg mice were orally treated with a combination of atorvastatin (10 mg·kg-1·d-1) and fenofibrate (100 mg·kg-1·d-1). HCD-treated hApoC3-Tg mice demonstrated elevated levels of serum TG, total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C). Oral administration of atorvastatin and fenofibrate significantly decreased the plaque sizes of en face aorta, aortic sinus and innominate artery accompanied by improved lipid profile and distribution. In summary, this novel mouse model is of considerable clinical relevance for evaluation of anti-atherosclerotic drugs by targeting both hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia.

Effect of Bempedoic Acid vs Placebo Added to Maximally Tolerated Statins on Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol in Patients at High Risk for Cardiovascular Disease: The CLEAR Wisdom Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Additional treatment options are needed for patients who do not achieve sufficient reduction in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level with available lipid-lowering therapies. Objective: To assess the efficacy of bempedoic acid vs placebo in patients at high cardiovascular risk receiving maximally tolerated lipid-lowering therapy. Design, Setting, and Participants: Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial conducted at 91 clinical sites in North America and Europe from November 2016 to September 2018, with a final date of follow-up of September 22, 2018. A total of 779 patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, or both met randomization criteria, which included LDL-C level 70 mg/dL (1.8 mmol/L) or greater while receiving maximally tolerated lipid-lowering therapy. Interventions: Patients were randomized 2:1 to treatment with bempedoic acid (180 mg) (n = 522) or placebo (n = 257) once daily for 52 weeks. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary end point was percent change from baseline in LDL-C level at week 12. Secondary measures included changes in levels of lipids, lipoproteins, and biomarkers. Results: Among 779 randomized patients (mean age, 64.3 years; 283 women [36.3%]), 740 (95.0%) completed the trial. At baseline, mean LDL-C level was 120.4 (SD, 37.9) mg/dL. Bempedoic acid lowered LDL-C levels significantly more than placebo at week 12 (-15.1% vs 2.4%, respectively; difference, -17.4% [95% CI, -21.0% to -13.9%]; P < .001). Significant reductions with bempedoic acid vs placebo were observed at week 12 for non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (-10.8% vs 2.3%; difference, -13.0% [95% CI, -16.3% to -9.8%]; P < .001), total cholesterol (-9.9% vs 1.3%; difference, -11.2% [95% CI, -13.6% to -8.8%]; P < .001), apolipoprotein B (-9.3% vs 3.7%; difference, -13.0% [95% CI, -16.1% to -9.9%]; P < .001), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (median, -18.7% vs -9.4%; difference, -8.7% [asymptotic confidence limits, -17.2% to -0.4%]; P = .04). Common adverse events included nasopharyngitis (5.2% vs 5.1% with bempedoic acid and placebo, respectively), urinary tract infection (5.0% vs 1.9%), and hyperuricemia (4.2% vs 1.9%). Conclusions and Relevance: Among patients at high risk for cardiovascular disease receiving maximally tolerated statins, the addition of bempedoic acid compared with placebo resulted in a significant lowering of LDL-C level over 12 weeks. Further research is needed to assess the durability and clinical effect as well as long-term safety. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02991118.

Treatment of a high cardiovascular risk patient with McArdle's disease with PCSK9 inhibitors. / Tratamiento de un varón con enfermedad de McArdle y muy alto riesgo cardiovascular con inhibidores de PCSK9.

A 60-year-old male with familial combined hyperlipidemia, ischemic heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Since childhood, intolerance to intense exercise. The patient was diagnosed of McArdle's disease after an episode of rhabdomyolysis associated with statins as treatment after a myocardial infarction. Since then, he had been treated with diet, fibrates and ezetimibe with good tolerance, despite this, LDL cholesterol (cLDL) remained >180mg/dl. He started to be treated with alirocumab 150mg/sc every 14 days, with excellent clinical response and a decrease in cLDL to 15mg/dl. Our case shows that PCSK9 inhibitors are effective and safe in patients with muscle diseases who have statin contraindication, and they are a good therapeutic tool for these patients.

Vascular inflammation and metabolic activity in hematopoietic organs and liver in familial combined hyperlipidemia and heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.

BACKGROUND: Familial dyslipidemias of either heterozygous (heFH) or combined (FCH) type lead to accelerated atherogenesis and increased cardiovascular risk. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate in statin-naïve adult patients with familial dyslipidemias whether inflammatory activation and liver, spleen and bone marrow metabolic activity differ compared with normolipidemic subjects and between dyslipidemic groups. METHODS: Fourteen patients with FCH, 14 with heFH, and 14 normolipidemic individuals were enrolled. Serum lipids, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and fibrinogen levels were measured, followed by 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography/computed tomography imaging. Radiotracer uptake in the aortic wall, spleen, bone marrow, and liver was quantified as tissue-to-background ratio (TBR). RESULTS: Patients with heFH had significantly higher low-density lipoprotein levels compared with those with FCH and controls (P < .001). However, aortic TBRs were higher in FCH compared with heFH patients and controls (P = .02 and P < .001, respectively). FCH patients exhibited higher FDG uptake in the spleen compared with controls (P = .05). In addition, FCH exhibited higher bone marrow FDG uptake compared with heFH patients and controls (P = .03 and P = .02, respectively). FCH had higher liver uptake compared with heFH patients and controls (P < .001 for both). Significant correlations were observed between inflammatory biomarkers and imaging indices as well as between aortic TBR and FDG uptake of hematopoietic organs and liver. CONCLUSIONS: Systemic, as well as vascular inflammation and spleen, bone marrow, and hepatic metabolic activity are increased in patients with FCH despite lower levels of low-density lipoprotein.

Statin Therapy and Risk of Diabetes Mellitus in Aging Patients With Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia or Familial Combined Hyperlipidemia: A 10-Year Follow-Up.

We assessed the incidence of diabetes mellitus (DM) in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) and familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCH) treated with statins. Participants (n = 280) of mean age 59 ± 5 years were included (90 patients with HeFH, 112 patients with FCH, and 78 aged-matched participants). The median statin intensity treatment product (statin intensity in arbitrary equivalence units × duration of statin therapy in months) was 119 and 85 for patients with HeFH and FCH, respectively, at 10-year follow-up. The incidence of DM was significantly lower in patients with HeFH compared to the patients with FCH (2% vs 20%) and the reference group (2% vs 17%) during the 10-year follow-up period (all Ps < .001). Impaired fasting blood glucose at entry ( P < .001) and central obesity ( P = .02) were the only independent predictors of DM. The incidence of DM was significantly lower in older patients with HeFH compared to either aged-matched patients with FCH or individuals not receiving statins. Statins did not increase risk of DM in aging patients with FCH. These findings have implications, given the importance of high-intensity statin therapy for prevention of cardiovascular events, especially in patients with HeFH, a population with high cardiovascular risk.

Efficacy of Lomitapide in the Treatment of Familial Homozygous Hypercholesterolemia: Results of a Real-World Clinical Experience in Italy.

INTRODUCTION: Homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (HoFH) is a rare form of inherited dyslipidemia resistant to conventional cholesterol-lowering medications so that lipoprotein apheresis (LA) is usually required. Lomitapide has been approved for the treatment of HoFH. The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefits of lomitapide in HoFH patients followed with the usual clinical care. METHODS: Clinical and biochemical data were retrospectively collected in 15 HoFH patients (10 with mutations in the LDLR gene and 5 in the LDLRAP1 gene) treated for at least 6 months with lomitapide in addition to lipid-lowering therapies (LLT) in different Lipid Clinics across Italy. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 32.3 ± 29.7 months. During background therapies, HoFH patients showed a mean LDL-C level of 426.0 ± 204.0 mg/dl. The addition of lomitapide at the average dosage of 19 mg/day lowered LDL-C levels by 68.2 ± 24.8%. At their last visit, 60% of patients showed LDL-C <100 mg/dl and 46.6% <70 mg/dl. During follow-up, 8 of 10 patients receiving LA (80%) stopped this treatment due to marked LDL-C reduction. A wide range (13-95%) of individual LDL-C reduction was observed, but this was not related to genotype. During follow-up, 53.3% of patients reported at least one episode of diarrhea, but none was referred as severe; none had liver transaminase >5× ULN or had to stop treatment due to side effects. A subset of patients was evaluated by liver ultrasound and fibroscan (n = 5) or nuclear magnetic resonance with spectroscopy (MRS) (n = 1) not showing clinical evidence of liver damage. CONCLUSION: In this real-world experience, lomitapide was confirmed to be a very powerful cholesterol-lowering agent in HoFH showing a good safety profile.

Metabolism and proteomics of large and small dense LDL in combined hyperlipidemia: effects of rosuvastatin.

Small dense LDL (sdLDL) has been reported to be more atherogenic than large buoyant LDL (lbLDL). We examined the metabolism and protein composition of sdLDL and lbLDL in six subjects with combined hyperlipidemia on placebo and rosuvastatin 40 mg/day. ApoB-100 kinetics in triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TRLs), lbLDL (density [d] = 1.019-1.044 g/ml), and sdLDL (d = 1.044-1.063 g/ml) were determined in the fed state by using stable isotope tracers, mass spectrometry, and compartmental modeling. Compared with placebo, rosuvastatin decreased LDL cholesterol and apoB-100 levels in TRL, lbLDL, and sdLDL by significantly increasing the fractional catabolic rate of apoB-100 (TRL, +45%; lbLDL, +131%; and sdLDL, +97%), without a change in production. On placebo, 25% of TRL apoB-100 was catabolized directly, 37% was converted to lbLDL, and 38% went directly to sdLDL; rosuvastatin did not alter these distributions. During both phases, sdLDL apoB-100 was catabolized more slowly than lbLDL apoB-100 (P < 0.01). Proteomic analysis indicated that rosuvastatin decreased apoC-III and apoM content within the density range of lbLDL (P < 0.05). In our view, sdLDL is more atherogenic than lbLDL because of its longer plasma residence time, potentially resulting in more particle oxidation, modification, and reduction in size, with increased arterial wall uptake. Rosuvastatin enhances the catabolism of apoB-100 in both lbLDL and sdLDL.

Rosuvastatin Enhances the Catabolism of LDL apoB-100 in Subjects with Combined Hyperlipidemia in a Dose Dependent Manner.

Dose-associated effects of rosuvastatin on the metabolism of apolipoprotein (apo) B-100 in triacylglycerol rich lipoprotein (TRL, d < 1.019 g/ml) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) and of apoA-I in high density lipoprotein (HDL) were assessed in subjects with combined hyperlipidemia. Our primary hypothesis was that maximal dose rosuvastatin would decrease the apoB-100 production rate (PR), as well as increase apoB-100 fractional catabolic rate (FCR). Eight subjects received placebo, rosuvastatin 5 mg/day, and rosuvastatin 40 mg/day for 8 weeks each in sequential order. The kinetics of apoB-100 in TRL and LDL and apoA-I in HDL were determined at the end of each phase using stable isotope methodology, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and multicompartmental modeling. Rosuvastatin at 5 and 40 mg/day decreased LDL cholesterol by 44 and 54% (both P < 0.0001), triacylglycerol by 14% (ns) and 35% (P < 0.01), apoB by 30 and 36% (both P < 0.0001), respectively, and had no significant effects on HDL cholesterol or apoA-I levels. Significant decreases in plasma markers of cholesterol synthesis and increases in cholesterol absorption markers were observed. Rosuvastatin 5 and 40 mg/day increased TRL apoB-100 FCR by 36 and 46% (both ns) and LDL apoB-100 by 63 and 102% (both P < 0.05), respectively. HDL apoA-I PR increased with low dose rosuvastatin (12%, P < 0.05) but not with maximal dose rosuvastatin. Neither rosuvastatin dose altered apoB-100 PR or HDL apoA-I FCR. Our data indicate that maximal dose rosuvastatin treatment in subjects with combined hyperlipidemia resulted in significant increases in the catabolism of LDL apoB-100, with no significant effects on apoB-100 production or HDL apoA-I kinetics.

Clinical experience of scoring criteria for Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH) genetic testing in Wales.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is caused by mutations in genes of the Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) receptor pathway. A definitive diagnosis of FH can be made by the demonstration of a pathogenic mutation. The Wales FH service has developed scoring criteria to guide selection of patients for DNA testing, for those referred to clinics with hypercholesterolaemia. The criteria are based on a modification of the Dutch Lipid Clinic scoring criteria and utilise a combination of lipid values, physical signs, personal and family history of premature cardiovascular disease. They are intended to provide clinical guidance and enable resources to be targeted in a cost effective manner. METHODS: 623 patients who presented to lipid clinics across Wales had DNA testing following application of these criteria. RESULTS: The proportion of patients with a pathogenic mutation ranged from 4% in those scoring 5 or less up to 85% in those scoring 15 or more. LDL-cholesterol was the strongest discriminatory factor. Scores gained from physical signs, family history, coronary heart disease, and triglycerides also showed a gradient in mutation pick-up rate according to the score. CONCLUSION: These criteria provide a useful tool to guide selection of patients for DNA testing when applied by health professionals who have clinical experience of FH.

[LDL-cholesterol control in patients with genetic dyslipidemia followed up by Lipid and Vascular Risk Units of the Spanish Society of Arteriosclerosis]. / Control del colesterol-LDL en pacientes con dislipidemias genéticas seguidos en unidades de lípidos y riesgo vascular de la Sociedad Española de Arteriosclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDLc) achieved in patients with genetic dyslipidemia treated during one year in Lipid and Vascular Risk Units (LVRU) of the Spanish Society of Arteriosclerosis (SSA). DESIGN: Observational, longitudinal, retrospective, multicenter national study that included consecutive patients of both sexes over 18 years of age referred due to dyslipidemia to LVRU of the SSA. Information was collected from medical records corresponding to two visits in the lipid unit. RESULTS: A total of 527 patients (mean age 48 years, 60.0% men) diagnosed with genetic dyslipidemia (241 with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, and 286 with familial combined hyperlipidemia) were included. The mean follow-up was 12.9 months. In the last visit, 94% were taking statins, one third combined with ezetimibe, although only 41% were taking a high-intensity hypolipidemic treatment. Overall, 28.5% of patients attained an LDLc level<100 mg/dL, 35.8% decreased their LDLc by >50%, and 53.8% achieved one of the two. Predictors of target LDLc levels in the multivariate analysis were age, smoking habit and the presence of vascular disease. CONCLUSION: Over half of the patients with genetic dyslipidemia followed up by LVRU of SSA achieve LDLc objectives after one year of follow-up. The use of high-intensity hypolipidemic treatment could improve these results.

Statin therapy and risk of diabetes in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia or familial combined hyperlipidemia.

OBJECTIVE: Controversial findings exist regarding potential influence of statin therapy on diabetic incidence. Aim of this study was to investigate the role of long duration statin treatment on diabetes mellitus (DM) incidence of Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia (hFH) and Familial Combined Hyperlipidemia (FCH) patients. METHODS: Study population consisted of 212 hFH and 147 FCH patients that visited Lipid Outpatient Department (mean follow up of 11 and 10 years respectively). Several clinical data such as history of DM, cardiovascular disease, thyroid function, metabolic syndrome, glucose levels, lipid profile and lifestyle data were obtained. In order to compare the effects of different doses of different types of statins, a "statin treatment intensity product" was used. RESULTS: 14% of FCH and only 1% of hFH patients developed DM during follow up. Although univariate analysis showed a statistical trend (p = 0.06) in the association between new onset DM and statin treatment intensity (STI) in the FCH subgroup of patients with normal baseline glucose levels, this was no longer significant after adjusting for several confounders. Furthermore, the type of statins used did not seem to play a role in the development of DM either in hFH or FCH patients. CONCLUSION: Long duration of high STI does not seem to be associated with diabetic risk in hFH patients. High STI used in the FCH population is not associated with increased risk of new onset DM compared to low STI. Further studies are required in order to clarify the potential diabetogenic effects of statins in these high risk populations.

MTP gene polymorphisms and postprandial lipemia in familial combined hyperlipidemia: effects of treatment with atorvastatin.

BACKGROUND: The microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) is involved in hepatic and intestinal apoB secretion. We studied the effect of the functional MTP-493G/T polymorphism on fasting and postprandial lipoproteins in patients with familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCH) before and after treatment with atorvastatin. METHODS: Eight FCH heterozygote carriers of the rare -493T allele were compared to 9 matched FCH homozygotes for the wild-type allele in a pilot study. Oral fat loading tests were carried out to measure triglycerides (TG) and apo B48 and B100 in the different fractions of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TRLs) before and after treatment with atorvastatin. RESULTS: Before treatment, TG were similar between the -493T allele carriers and non-carriers. In the T-allele carriers, a trend was observed for increased postprandial apo B48 and B100 concentrations in Sf >400 and Sf 60-400 compared to non-carriers. After treatment, fasting and postprandial TG were significantly lowered in carriers of the T allele, but atorvastatin had no effect on postprandial TG in non-carriers. Atorvastatin resulted in similar reductions of apo B48 and B100 in TRLs in both groups. CONCLUSION: The MTP-493G/T polymorphism modulates postprandial apo B48 and apo B100 of TRLs in FCH. Atorvastatin decreases postprandial TG in T-allele carriers with FCH.

[Dyslipidemia - when are lipid lowering medications useful in clinical practice?]. / Dyslipidämie - Wann ist der Einsatz von Lipidsenkern in der Praxis sinnvoll?

Dyslipidemia is one of the main modifiable cardiovascular risk factors. There is strong evidence for the efficacy of lipid-lowering drugs in secondary prevention, as well as in primary prevention for patients at high cardiovascular risk. In primary prevention, indication for lipid-lowering interventions should be based on an individual assessment of the cardiovascular risk and on the LDL cholesterol level, despite less strong evidence for the efficacy of drug-based interventions in low risk patients. Treatment consists of statins, as well as lifestyle modifications such as body weight control and increased physical exercise. The latter constitute the primary intervention in patients at low cardiovascular risk. Secondary dyslipidemias due to an underlying medical condition and familial dyslipidemias such as Familial Hypercholesterolemia and Familial Combined Hyperlipidemia should be identified and treated accordingly, taking into account that the risk scoring systems are not appropriate in these situations.

La dyslipidémie est un facteur de risque cardiovasculaire majeur et influençable. L'efficacité des statines est bien établie dans la prévention secondaire des maladies cardiovasculaires et dans la prévention primaire chez les patients à haut risque. En prévention primaire, l'indication pour les hypolipémiants se base sur l'estimation de risque cardiovasculaire et le taux de LDL-cholestérol, bien que les preuves du bénéfice d'un traitement médicamenteux soient plus faibles pour les patients à faible risque. Le traitement repose essentiellement sur les statines, ainsi que les modifications du style de vie, comme la stabilisation ou une réduction du poids et une augmentation de l'activité physique. Les mesures de style de vie constituent l'intervention principale chez les patients à faible risque. Il est important d'identifier les dyslipidémies secondaires à une maladie chronique et les dyslipidémies familiales, comme l'hypercholestérolémie familiale et l'hyperlipidémie familiale combinée, vu que les scores de risque ne sont pas appropriés dans ces situations et leur prise en charge spécifique.

Meta-analysis of safety of the coadministration of statin with fenofibrate in patients with combined hyperlipidemia.

Addition of fenofibrate to statin therapy might represent a viable treatment option for patients whose high risk for coronary heart disease is not controlled by a statin alone. However, safety of coadministration of statin with fenofibrate has been a great concern. The present study tested the safety of coadministration of statin with fenofibrate. We systematically searched the literature to identify randomized controlled trials examining safety of coadministration of statin with fenofibrate. A meta-analysis was performed to estimate safety of coadministration of statin with fenofibrate using fixed-effects models. There were 1,628 subjects in the identified 6 studies. Discontinuation attributed to any adverse events (4.5% vs 3.1%, p = 0.20), any adverse events (42% vs 41%, p = 0.82), adverse events related to study drug (10.9% vs 11.0%, p = 0.95), and serious adverse events (2.0% vs 1.5%, p = 0.71) were not significantly different in the 2 arms. Incidence of alanine aminotransferase and/or aspartate aminotransferase ≥3 times upper limit of normal in the combination therapy arm was significantly higher than in the statin monotherapy arm (3.1% vs 0.2%, p = 0.0009). In the 6 trials with 1,628 subjects no case of myopathy or rhabdomyolysis was reported. In conclusion, statin-fenofibrate combination therapy was tolerated as well as statin monotherapy. Physicians should consider statin-fenofibrate combination therapy to treat patients with mixed dyslipidemia.

Cholesterol metabolism differs after statin therapy according to the type of hyperlipemia.

AIM: Non-cholesterol sterols reflect cholesterol metabolism. Statins reduce cholesterol synthesis usually with a rise in cholesterol absorption. Common hyperlipemias have shown different patterns of cholesterol metabolism. We evaluated whether cholesterol absorption and synthesis may differ after statin therapy in primary hyperlipemias. MAIN METHODS: We determined lipid profile, apoprotein B and serum sterols (lathosterol, sitosterol, campesterol by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry) before and after statins in 80 untreated hyperlipemic patients, 40 with polygenic hypercholesterolemia (PH) and 40 with familial combined hyperlipemia (FCH). KEY FINDINGS: At baseline in FCH lathosterol was significantly higher while campesterol and sitosterol were significantly lower than in PH. After statins, the reduction in LDL-C did not significantly differ between the two groups; in PH there was a significant decrease of lathosterol from 96.1 to 52.6 102 µmol/mmol cholesterol (p=0.0001) with no significant modifications in campesterol and sitosterol; on the opposite, in FCH lathosterol decreased from 117 to 43 102 µmol/mmol cholesterol (p=0.0001) and campesterol and sitosterol significantly increased from 38 to 48 102 µmol/mmol cholesterol (p=0.0001), and from 75 to 86 102 µmol/mmol cholesterol, (p=0.022), respectively. After statin therapy only in FCH Δ-LDL-C showed a significant inverse correlation with Δ-sitosterol and with Δ-campesterol. SIGNIFICANCE: Primary hyperlipemias show different patterns of response to statins: in PH LDL reduction appears completely "synthesis inhibition" dependent, while in FCH LDL decrease appears to be synthesis dependent, partially limited by absorption increase. Studying cholesterol metabolism before and after hypolipemic therapy might be useful in identifying the best tailored treatment.

[Dyslipidemia: news in diagnosis and drug therapy]. / Dislipidemie: attualita' in diagnosi e terapia farmacologica.

Plasma lipid levels are to a large extent determined by genetic factors. In its more extreme forms this is manifested as familial hyperlipidemias, which are an important cause of premature coronary heart disease. It has been demonstrated that rigorous treatment of familial forms reduces the burden of ischemic heart disease. Statins are among the most studied drugs in cardiovascular prevention; a number of large-scale clinical trials have demonstrated that statins substantially reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in both primary and secondary prevention. The currently available evidence suggests that the clinical benefit is largely independent of the type of statin, but depends on the extent of LDL-C lowering. When the most potent statins are insufficient, LDL-C apheresis should be used.

Increased appearance rate of 27-hydroxycholesterol in vivo in hypercholesterolemia: a possible compensatory mechanism.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The first step in the alternative pathway of bile acid biosynthesis is the 27-hydroxylation of cholesterol, which takes place both in liver and extrahepatic tissues. This pathway is believed to play a role in peripheral cholesterol degradation. Aim of this study was to investigate the impact of hyperlipidemia on 27-hydroxycholesterol appearance rate, and to assess the effects induced by treatment with statins. METHODS AND RESULTS: Seven patients with familial hypercholesterolemia and eight patients with familial combined hyperlipidemia underwent determination of 27-hydroxylation rates in vivo by i.v. infusion of deuterated 27-hydroxycholesterol. Isotope enrichment was assayed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, allowing to calculate 27-hydroxycholesterol appearance rates. Six normocholesterolemic subjects were regarded as controls. In some hypercholesterolemic patients the infusions were repeated during treatment with atorvastatin or rosuvastatin. Hydroxylation rates were higher in hypercholesterolemic patients (8.7 ± 2.5 mg/h; controls, 3.4 ± 2.0 mg/h; combined hyperlipidemia, 4.4 ± 1.6 mg/h; mean ± SD, P < 0.01 vs both). After statin treatment, both plasma cholesterol levels and hydroxylation rates dropped by nearly 50%. No difference was detectable between the two statins. A linear correlation was shown between plasma cholesterol and 27-hydroxylation rates. CONCLUSION: Hypercholesterolemia associates with increased 27-hydroxycholesterol appearance rates, which decrease during hypocholesterolemic treatment. The correlation with cholesterol levels supports the view that 27-hydroxylation may act as a compensatory mechanism in a condition of larger plasma cholesterol pool. A regulatory role for hepatic and extrahepatic nuclear receptors seems reasonable. These data prompt novel pharmacological approaches for the management of hypercholesterolemia and the prevention of atherosclerosis.

[Subclinical carotid atherosclerosis in patients with familial combined hyperlipidemia. Two years follow-up after treatment with high doses of atorvastatin]. / Arteriosclerosis carotídea subclínica en pacientes con hiperlipidemia familiar combinada. Evolución tras dos años de tratamiento con dosis altas de atorvastatina.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCH) is a genetic model of atherogenic dyslipidemia with insulin resistance and early coronary disease. Our objective was to evaluate the presence of carotid alterations as a marker of systemic atherosclerosis in subjects with FCH and assess the effect of 80 mg of atorvastatin per day in carotid plaque thickness after 2 years. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 100 non diabetic subjects with FCH in primary prevention were consecutively included. Clinical and biochemical parameters and carotid ultrasonography were performed. Subjects with carotid plaque started treatment with 80 mg of atorvastatin per day for 2 years. RESULTS: 29% of subjects had carotid plaques. We did not find significant differences in any of the parameters between subjects with presence or absence of carotid plaques. Twenty subjects with carotid plaques accepted/agreed to participate in the interventional study. Two years follow-up showed a significant reduction in LDLc (30%) and carotid plaque thickness (10%). CONCLUSION: Carotid ultrasonography is useful to detect subclinical atherosclerosis in high risk cardiovascular patients such as subjects with FCH. Treatment with high doses of atorvastatin induces the regression of carotid plaque thickness after 2 years follow-up. Our results suggest that intensive treatment with atorvastatin could be useful to reduce the development of cardiovascular disease in this group of patients.