Alirocumab reduces plaque load in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia
A new study published in Circulation, shows that in individuals with familial hypercholesterolemia who did not have clinical cardiac disease, a year of therapy with the PCSK9 inhibitor alirocumab (Repatha) resulted in substantial reductions in coronary plaque load and plaque stability.
A PCSK9 (proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9) inhibitor called alirocumab has not been studied for its impact on individuals with familial hypercholesterolemia's coronary plaque load. On the basis of a noninvasive investigation of coronary computed tomographic angiography, Leopoldo Pérez de Isla and colleagues conducted this research to evaluate changes in coronary plaque load and its features following therapy with alirocumab in asymptomatic patients with familial hypercholesterolemia undergoing optimal and stable treatment with maximal tolerated statin doses.
In patients with familial hypercholesterolemia who have not developed clinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, this research is a phase IV, multicenter, open-label, single-arm clinical trial to evaluate changes in coronary plaque load and its features following 78 weeks of therapy with alirocumab. Both a baseline and follow-up coronary computed tomographic angiography were performed on participants. Together with high-intensity statin treatment, each patient got 150 mg of alirocumab subcutaneously every 14 days. The primary result was a change in coronary plaque burden and its features as measured and described by coronary computed tomographic angiography examination of atherosclerotic plaque throughout the coronary tree.
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