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Dyslipidaemia

PCSK9 inhibitor reduces need for lipoprotein apheresis in familial hypercholesterolaemia

Nature Reviews Cardiology volume 13, page 634 (2016)Cite this article

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The need for lipoprotein apheresis — the removal of apoprotein B100-containing lipoproteins from the blood — is reduced in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia treated with the PCSK9 inhibitor alirocumab. In the double-blind ODYSSEY ESCAPE trial, 62 patients were randomly assigned to receive 150 mg of alirocumab or placebo subcutaneously twice weekly for 18 weeks. The rate of apheresis treatments was reduced by 75% in patients who received alirocumab compared with those who received placebo. Of the patients receiving the PCSK9 inhibitor, 63.4% avoided all apheresis, and 92.7% avoided at least half of the treatments. “The findings from this study suggest a role for alirocumab in the overall management of patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia undergoing regular lipoprotein apheresis therapy,” conclude the researchers.

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References

  1. Moriarty, P. M. et al. Alirocumab in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia undergoing lipoprotein apheresis: the ODYSSEY ESCAPE trial. Eur. Heart J. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehw388 (2016)

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  1. Gregory B. Lim
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Lim, G. PCSK9 inhibitor reduces need for lipoprotein apheresis in familial hypercholesterolaemia. Nat Rev Cardiol 13, 634 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrcardio.2016.148

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrcardio.2016.148

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