Evolocumab Treatment in Pediatric Patients With Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia: Pooled Data From Three Open-Label Studies.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) have an increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and difficulty meeting low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goals. In this post hoc analysis, we evaluated pooled safety and efficacy data from 3 studies in pediatric patients with HoFH treated with the PCSK9 (proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9) monoclonal antibody inhibitor evolocumab. METHODS: Patients with HoFH aged 10 to 17 years received treatment with open-label evolocumab 420 mg subcutaneously monthly or biweekly in the TAUSSIG, RAMAN, or HAUSER-OLE clinical studies. All patients received background statins with or without ezetimibe. Study duration ranged from 12 to 260 weeks. The primary end point was treatment-emergent adverse events per 100 patient-years. Efficacy end points were changes from baseline to week 12 in lipids and PCSK9. RESULTS: Of the 39 patients in the pooled analysis, 69.2% were males, median age was 13.0 years, and 79.5% (31/39) had genotyped HoFH with LDLR pathogenic variants. Overall, median exposure to evolocumab was 18.2 (Q1, Q3: 3.0, 18.5) months. Treatment-emergent adverse events with an exposure-adjusted patient incidence rate of ≥5% were upper respiratory tract infection (6.6%), influenza (5.2%), and acne (5.0%) per 100 patient-years. Exposure-adjusted patient incidence of serious treatment-emergent adverse events was 13.3% per 100 patient-years. Excluding 4 patients receiving lipoprotein apheresis, week 12 median percentage change from baseline in LDL-C was -2.9% (Q1, Q3: -21.7, 1.5); however, 42.9% (15/35) of patients achieved ≥15% reduction in LDL-C from baseline. Residual LDLR (LDL receptor) activity was not associated with a reduction in LDL-C. CONCLUSIONS: In this pooled data analysis from 3 studies in pediatric patients with HoFH, evolocumab was well tolerated, with no new safety signals reported. These safety findings are consistent with findings from previous studies of evolocumab. Patients showed marked variability in LDL-C reduction. Results from this pooled analysis support guidelines suggesting a trial of PCSK9 inhibitor therapy regardless of estimated residual LDLR function. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT01624142, NCT03403374, and NCT02624869.

Rationale and design of the effect of evolocumab in patients at high cardiovascular risk without prior myocardial infarction or stroke (VESALIUS-CV) trial.

BACKGROUND: The reduction of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) with evolocumab, a fully human monoclonal antibody inhibitor of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9i), reduces the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) with a prior MI, prior stroke, or symptomatic peripheral artery disease, with no offsetting safety concerns. The effect of evolocumab on CV outcomes in lower risk patients without a history of MI or stroke has not been explored. STUDY DESIGN: VESALIUS-CV is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, global clinical trial designed to evaluate the effect of evolocumab on the risk of major cardiovascular events in patients at high cardiovascular risk but without a prior ischemic event. The study population consists of 12,301 patients with atherosclerosis or high-risk diabetes mellitus without a prior MI or stroke; an LDL-C ≥ 90 mg/dL, or non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) ≥ 120 mg/dL, or apolipoprotein B ≥ 80 mg/dL; and treated with optimized lipid-lowering therapy. Patients were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to evolocumab 140 mg subcutaneously every 2 weeks or matching placebo. The primary efficacy objective is to assess whether evolocumab reduces the risk of the dual primary composite endpoints of coronary heart disease (CHD) death, myocardial infarction (MI), or ischemic stroke (triple primary endpoint) and of CHD death, MI, ischemic stroke, or ischemia-driven arterial revascularization (quadruple primary endpoint). Recruitment began in June 2019 and completed in November 2021. The trial is planned to continue until at least 751 patients experience an adjudicated triple endpoint, at least 1254 experience an adjudicated quadruple endpoint, and the median follow-up is ≥4.5 years. CONCLUSION: VESALIUS-CV will determine whether the addition of evolocumab to optimized lipid-lowering therapy reduces cardiovascular events in patients at high cardiovascular risk without a prior MI or stroke. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03872401.

Evolocumab in paediatric heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia: cognitive function during 80 weeks of open-label extension treatment.

AIMS: PCSK9 inhibition intensively lowers low density lipoprotein cholesterol and is well tolerated in adults and paediatric patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH). HAUSER-RCT showed that 24 weeks of treatment with evolocumab in paediatric patients did not affect cognitive function. This study determined the effects of 80 additional weeks of evolocumab treatment on cognitive function in paediatric patients with heterozygous FH. METHODS AND RESULTS: HAUSER-OLE was an 80-week open-label extension of HAUSER-RCT, a randomized, double-blind, 24-week trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of evolocumab in paediatric patients (ages 10-17 years) with FH. During the OLE, all patients received monthly 420 mg subcutaneous evolocumab injections. Tests of psychomotor function, attention, visual learning, and executive function were administered at baseline and Weeks 24 and 80 of the OLE. Changes over time were analysed descriptively and using analysis of covariance. Cohen's d statistic was used to evaluate the magnitude of treatment effects. Analysis of covariance results indicated no decrease in performance across visits during 80 weeks of evolocumab treatment for Groton Maze Learning, One Card Learning accuracy, Identification speed, or Detection speed (all P > 0.05). Performance on all tasks was similar for those who received placebo or evolocumab in the RCT (all P > 0.05). For all tests, the least square mean differences between patients who received placebo vs. evolocumab in the parent study were trivial (all Cohen's d magnitude < 0.2). CONCLUSION: In paediatric patients with FH, 80 weeks of open-label evolocumab treatment had no negative impact on cognitive function. REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02624869.

Some children are born with a genetic disorder that causes high cholesterol, which leads to heart disease. Children with high cholesterol can be treated with evolocumab, a medication that lowers blood cholesterol. Because cholesterol is important for development and adequate function of the brain, there is a concern that lowering cholesterol in children may affect mental ability. In this study, we tested whether treating children with evolocumab for 80 weeks affected mental ability in performing several tasks. A battery of tests that measure executive function (Groton Maze Learning Test), visual learning (One Card Learning Test), visual attention (Identification Test), and psychomotor function (Detection Test) showed no decrease in performance across visits during 80 weeks of evolocumab treatment. Performance on all tasks was similar for the children who received placebo for the first 24 weeks then received evolocumab for an additional 80 weeks (placebo/evolocumab) and those who received evolocumab for 24 weeks then received evolocumab for an additional 80 weeks (evolocumab/evolocumab).

Measures of anticoagulation and coagulopathy in pediatric cardiac extracorporeal membrane oxygenation patients.

INTRODUCTION: Pediatric cardiac Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) is effective, however, bleeding and clotting issues continue to cause significant morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study was to assess the correlation between measures of anticoagulation, the heparin dose in pediatric cardiac ECMO patients as well as to assess covert coagulopathy as measured by thromboelastography (TEG). METHODS: Retrospective study of cardiac ECMO patients in a large, academic referral center using anticoagulation data during the ECMO support. RESULTS: Five hundred and eighty-four sets of anticoagulation tests and 343 TEG from 100 patients with median age of 26 days were reviewed. ECMO was post-surgical for congenital heart disease in 94% with resuscitation (ECPR) in 38% of the cases. Mean duration of support was 6.3 days. Overall survival to discharge was 35%. There was low but statistically significant correlation between individual anticoagulation measures and low correlation between Anti-Xa levels and heparin dose. There was no correlation between PTT and heparin dose. 343 TEG with Heparinase were reviewed to assess covert coagulopathy which was present in 25% of these. The coagulopathy noted was pro-hemorrhagic in almost all of the cases with high values of reaction time and kinetics and low values for angle and maximum amplitude. CONCLUSION: Coagulation monitoring on ECMO may benefit from addition of Heparinase TEG to diagnose covert coagulopathy which can contribute to significant hemorrhagic complications. There is a need for a prospective, thromboelastography guided intervention trial to reduce coagulopathy related morbidity and mortality in ECMO.

Paediatric patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia treated with evolocumab for 80 weeks (HAUSER-OLE): a single-arm, multicentre, open-label extension of HAUSER-RCT.

BACKGROUND: The HAUSER-RCT study showed that 24 weeks of evolocumab (a proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 [PCSK9] inhibitor) in paediatric patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia was safe and improved lipid parameters compared to placebo. Here, we aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of evolocumab in this population for an additional 80 weeks. METHODS: HAUSER-OLE was an 80-week, single-arm, open-label extension of HAUSER-RCT, a randomised controlled trial, and was conducted at 46 centres in 23 countries. Paediatric patients aged 10-17 years with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia who completed 24 weeks of monthly treatment with subcutaneously administered placebo or 420 mg evolocumab in HAUSER-RCT with no serious treatment-emergent adverse events were eligible to enrol in HAUSER-OLE. All patients received open-label subcutaneous evolocumab 420 mg monthly with background statins with or without ezetimibe for 80 additional weeks. The primary endpoint was treatment-emergent adverse events. Efficacy was evaluated by changes in lipids from the baseline of HAUSER-RCT to the end of HAUSER-OLE (104 weeks). This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02624869) and is now completed. FINDINGS: Between Sept 10, 2016, and Nov 25, 2019, 157 patients were enrolled in HAUSER-RCT and received randomised treatment; 150 continued to HAUSER-OLE, received evolocumab treatment, and were included in the full analysis set, presented here. 146 (97%) of 150 patients completed the open-label extension. The incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events in HAUSER-OLE was 70% (105 of 150). Overall, the most common treatment-emergent adverse events were nasopharyngitis (22 [15%] of 150), headache (14 [9%]), and influenza-like illness (13 [9%]). Serious treatment-emergent adverse events occurred in four (3%) of 150 patients (perforated appendicitis and peritonitis, wrist fracture, anorexia nervosa, and headache); none was considered related to evolocumab. No treatment-emergent adverse events led to treatment discontinuation. At week 80, the mean percentage change from baseline in LDL cholesterol was -35·3% (SD 28·0). INTERPRETATION: After 80 weeks of treatment, evolocumab was safe, well tolerated, and led to sustained reductions in LDL cholesterol in paediatric patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia. When lipid goals cannot be achieved with conventional treatments, evolocumab is an effective add-on therapy in paediatric patients. FUNDING: Amgen. TRANSLATIONS: For the French, Spanish, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and Dutch translations of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

Utility and correlation of known anticoagulation parameters in the management of pediatric ventricular assist devices.

AIM: To assess utility and correlation of known anticoagulation parameters in the management of pediatric ventricular assist device (VAD). METHODS: Retrospective study of pediatric patients supported with a Berlin EXCOR VAD at a single pediatric tertiary care center during a single year. RESULTS: We demonstrated associations between activated thromboplastin time (aPTT) and R-thromboelastography (R-TEG) values (rs = 0.65, P < 0.001) and between anti-Xa assay and R-TEG values (rs = 0.54, P < 0.001). The strongest correlation was seen between aPTT and anti-Xa assays (rs = 0.71, P < 0.001). There was also a statistically significant correlation between platelet counts and the maximum amplitude of TEG (rs = 0.71, P < 0.001). Importantly, there was no association between dose of unfractionated heparin and either measure of anticoagulation (aPTT, anti-Xa or R-TEG value). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that while there is strong correlation between aPTT, anti-Xa assay and R-TEG values for patients requiring VAD support, there is a lack of relevant correlation between heparin dose and degree of effect. This raises concern as various guidelines continue to recommend using these parameters to titrate heparin therapy.

Detection of blur artifacts in histopathological whole-slide images of endomyocardial biopsies.

Histopathological whole-slide images (WSIs) have emerged as an objective and quantitative means for image-based disease diagnosis. However, WSIs may contain acquisition artifacts that affect downstream image feature extraction and quantitative disease diagnosis. We develop a method for detecting blur artifacts in WSIs using distributions of local blur metrics. As features, these distributions enable accurate classification of WSI regions as sharp or blurry. We evaluate our method using over 1000 portions of an endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) WSI. Results indicate that local blur metrics accurately detect blurry image regions.

Mutation of critical serine residues in HIV-1 matrix result in an envelope incorporation defect which can be rescued by truncation of the gp41 cytoplasmic tail.

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) matrix (MA) domain is involved in both early and late events of the viral life cycle. Simultaneous mutation of critical serine residues in MA has been shown previously to dramatically reduce phosphorylation of MA. However, the role of phosphorylation in viral replication remains unclear. Viruses harboring serine to alanine substitutions at positions 9, 67, 72, and 77 are severely impaired in their ability to infect target cells. In addition, the serine mutant viruses are defective in their ability to fuse with target cell membranes. Interestingly, both the fusion defect and the infectivity defect can be rescued by truncation of the long cytoplasmic tail of gp41 envelope protein (gp41CT). Sucrose density gradient analysis also reveals that these mutant viruses have reduced levels of gp120 envelope protein incorporated into the virions as compared to wild type virus. Truncation of the gp41CT rescues the envelope incorporation defect. Here we propose a model in which mutation of specific serine residues prevents MA interaction with lipid rafts during HIV-1 assembly and thereby impairs recruitment of envelope to the sites of viral budding.

Characterization of replication defects induced by mutations in the basic domain and C-terminus of HIV-1 matrix.

Extensive mutagenesis has defined distinct functional domains in the HIV-1 matrix domain (MA). In an attempt to more clearly define functions of regions of MA which affect viral entry, we analyzed mutations in the N-terminal basic and the C-terminal helical domains. Deletions of 8-10 amino acid residues of the C-terminal fifth helix of MA resulted in viruses that were only mildly defective in infectivity and fusion. The defect exhibited by these mutations could largely be attributed to a reduction in levels of viral envelope incorporated into mature virions. Truncation of the gp41 cytoplasmic tail (gp41CT) could rescue the phenotype of one of these mutants. In contrast, mutations of multiple basic residues in the N-terminus of MA were severely defective in both infectivity and fusion. While these mutations induce severe envelope incorporation defects, they also result in virus crippled at a post-entry step, since truncation of the gp41CT could not rescue the infectivity defect.