Alirocumab reduces lipoprotein(a), lowers cardiovascular risk, finds study

The outcomes assessed were Cardiovascular events including cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, stroke, hospitalization for unstable angina or heart failure, ischaemia-driven coronary revascularization, peripheral artery disease events, and venous thromboembolism.

Proportional hazards models estimated relationships between baseline lipoprotein(a) and total cardiovascular events in the placebo group, effects of alirocumab treatment on total cardiovascular events by baseline lipoprotein(a), and relationships between lipoprotein(a) reduction with alirocumab and subsequent risk of total cardiovascular events.

On analysis, the following facts emerged.

• Baseline lipoprotein(a) predicted total cardiovascular events with placebo, while higher baseline lipoprotein(a) levels were associated with greater reduction in total cardiovascular events with alirocumab (hazard ratio Ptrend = 0.045).
• Alirocumab-induced reductions in lipoprotein(a) (median -5.0 [-13.6, 0] mg/ dL) and corrected LDL-C (median -51.3 [-67.1, -34.0] mg/dL) independently predicted lower risk of total cardiovascular events.
• Each 5-mg/dL reduction in lipoprotein(a) predicted a 2.5% relative reduction in cardiovascular events.

"These findings support the concept of lipoprotein(a) as a treatment target among high-risk patients with a recent acute coronary syndrome." wrote the team.

Primary source: European Heart Journal

For the full article,follow the link:

doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehaa649