Ldl Cholesterol

Management of lipids and residual CV risk has been a primary focus in cardiology for decades, and new data in this area are encouraging. Much emphasis has been placed on the use of therapies including PCSK9 inhibitors, statins and ezetimibe to achieve target LDL levels. But controlling LDL does not always control CVD risk, and because some patients are not able to achieve LDL and other targets on existing therapies, new options are needed.

Two studies presented at the virtual American College of Cardiology Scientific Session highlight new options for LDL cholesterol reduction in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.

Effect of target LDL on secondary stroke prevention.

Esperion Therapeutics announced that a medication combining bempedoic acid and ezetimibe to lower LDL in adults with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia or established atherosclerotic CVD has been approved by the FDA.

Patients who adhered to alirocumab and background statin therapy did not experience any significant diminution in the treatment’s lipid-lowering efficacy after 3 years, according to a research letter published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Exposure to gestational diabetes in utero is associated with worse cardiovascular health in offspring from childhood through adolescence, according to an analysis of health plan data published in Pediatric Obesity.

Safety, efficacy and tolerability of inclisiran (The Medicines Company) in patients with atherosclerotic CVD and elevated LDL despite optimal medical therapy.

PHILADELPHIA — Patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia who were treated with inclisiran had reductions in LDL at 510 days and at an average of the period between 90 days and 540 days independent of their underlying genotype, according to results of the ORION-9 trial presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions.

PHILADELPHIA — Among patients with signs of atherosclerosis following stroke or transient ischemic attack, those who achieved a target LDL level of less than 70 mg/dL had lower risk for subsequent CV events than patients achieving LDL levels between 90 and 110 mg/dL, according to findings presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions.

Study results showed that while treatment with Ocaliva for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis led to an increase in LDL cholesterol at 12 weeks, levels reverted to baseline 24 weeks after discontinuation.