Mechanisms and Treatment of Dyslipidemia in Diabetes.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is widespread throughout the world and is a powerful risk factor for the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). This manuscript explored the mechanisms underlying dyslipidemia in type 2 diabetes as well as currently available treatment options and guideline recommendations. RECENT FINDINGS: Type 2 diabetes is associated with a characteristic pattern of dyslipidemia, often termed diabetic dyslipidemia. Patients with type 2 diabetes often present with low HDL levels, elevated levels of small dense LDL particles, and elevated triglyceride levels. LDL lowering is the cornerstone of managing diabetic dyslipidemia, and statins are the mainstay of therapy. The cholesterol absorption inhibitor ezetimibe and PCSK9 inhibitors have also been shown to lower risk in patients with diabetes. Recently, the eicosapentaenoic (EPA) only n-3 fatty acid, icosapent ethyl, has also shown benefit for cardiovascular risk reduction in patients with diabetes. To date, no agents targeting HDL increase have shown cardiovascular benefit in patients on background statin therapy. Diabetic dyslipidemia is significant cardiovascular disease risk factor, and LDL-lowering therapy with statins, PCSK9 inhibitors, and ezetimibe continues to be mainstay therapy to reduce cardiovascular risk. Future studies targeting low HDL and high triglycerides levels associated with type 2 diabetes could provide additional novel therapies to manage diabetic dyslipidemia.

Orbital atherectomy for treating de novo, severely calcified coronary lesions: 3-year results of the pivotal ORBIT II trial.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The presence of heavy coronary artery calcification increases the complexity of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and increases the incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE): death, myocardial infarction (MI), target vessel revascularization (TVR), and stent thrombosis. The ORBIT II (Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of OAS in Treating Severely Calcified Coronary Lesions) trial reported low rates of procedural, 30-day, 1-year, and 2-year ischemic complications after treatment of de novo, severely calcified lesions with the Diamondback 360° Coronary Orbital Atherectomy System (OAS) (Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.). METHODS/MATERIALS: ORBIT II was a single-arm trial that enrolled 443 patients at 49U.S. sites; in this study, de novo, severely calcified coronary lesions were treated with OAS prior to stenting. The primary safety endpoint was 30-day MACE: the composite of cardiac death, MI, and TVR (inclusive of target lesion revascularization (TLR)). The primary efficacy endpoint was procedural success: stent delivery with a residual stenosis of <50% without the occurrence of in-hospital MACE.The present analysis reports the final, 3-year follow-up results from ORBIT II. RESULTS: The majority of subjects (88.2%) underwent PCI with drug-eluting stents after orbital atherectomy. There were 360 (81.3%) subjects who completed the protocol-mandated 3-year visit.The overall cumulative rate of 3-year MACE was 23.5%, including cardiac death (6.7%), MI (11.2%), and TVR (10.2%). The 3-year target lesion revascularization rate was 7.8%. CONCLUSIONS: In the final 3-year analysis of the ORBIT II trial, orbital atherectomy of severely calcified coronary lesions followed by stenting resulted in a low rate of adverse ischemic events compared with historical controls.Orbital atherectomy represents a safe and effective revascularization strategy for patients with severely calcified coronary lesions. SUMMARY: The ORBIT II trial enrolled 443 subjects to study orbital atherectomy followed by stenting for de novo severely calcified coronary lesions. The overall cumulative 3-year MACE rate was 23.5%, including cardiac death (6.7%), MI (11.2%), and TVR (10.2%); the 3-year target lesion revascularization rate was 7.8%. Orbital atherectomy of heavily calcified coronary lesions followed by stenting results in a low rate of adverse ischemic events compared with historical controls; it represents a reasonable revascularization strategy for patients with severely calcified coronary lesions.