Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia with severe involvement of the aortic valve-A sibling-controlled case study on the efficacy of lipoprotein apheresis

Comparison of Model-Predicted and Observed Evinacumab Pharmacokinetics and Efficacy in Children Aged < 5 Years With Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia

Evinacumab, an angiopoietin-like 3 inhibitor, significantly reduces low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH). Herein, we report pharmacokinetic and efficacy analyses of evinacumab in < 5-year-old patients with HoFH. Population pharmacometric models characterizing evinacumab exposure and LDL-C response accounting for lipoprotein apheresis effect in ≥ 5-year-old patients were adapted for growth and maturation to predict and compare evinacumab and LDL-C concentrations across age/weight groups in virtual ≥ 6-month-old patients receiving 15 mg/kg evinacumab intravenous (iv) infusions every 4 weeks (q4w). As expected from allometric theory, weight-based dosing resulted in decreasing evinacumab exposures with declining body weight. Consistent with trends observed in > 5-year-old patients, the predicted percent change from LDL-C baseline (%∆LDL-C) was generally comparable or even higher in < 5-year-old patients (63.0%-68.5%) than in 5- to < 18-year-old patients (61.3%-67.8%) or adults (51.7%), with the predicted percentages of patients achieving %∆LDL-C > 50% also higher in < 5-year-old patients (82.0%-86.9%) versus 5- to < 18-year-old patients (72.0%-84.5%) and adults (54.8%). Through a managed access program, six 1- to < 5-year-old patients received between 5 and 23 iv infusions of 15 mg/kg evinacumab q4w. Rapid and clinically meaningful LDL-C reductions were observed, with %∆LDL-C at the last reported dose ranging from 41.3% to 77.3%. Based on the actual patient dosing and plasmapheresis history, model-predicted evinacumab and LDL-C concentrations were comparable to the observed data collected in the managed access program. Overall, this analysis provides evidence for the use of evinacumab 15 mg/kg iv q4w dosing regimen in 6-month-old to 5-year-old patients.

Dyslipidaemia as a target for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease prevention in children with type 1 diabetes: lessons learned from familial hypercholesterolaemia

In the last few decades, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk has decreased dramatically among individuals affected by familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) as a result of the early initiation of statin treatment in childhood. Contemporaneously important improvements in care for people with diabetes have also been made, such as the prevention of mortality from acute diabetic complications. However, individuals with type 1 diabetes still have a two to eight times higher risk of death than the general population. In the last 20 years, a few landmark studies on excess mortality in people with type 1 diabetes, in particular young adults, have been published. Although these studies were carried out in different populations, all reached the same conclusion: individuals with type 1 diabetes have a pronounced increased risk of ASCVD. In this review, we address the role of lipid abnormalities in the development of ASCVD in type 1 diabetes and FH. Although type 1 diabetes and FH are different diseases, lessons could be learned from the early initiation of statins in children with FH, which may provide a rationale for more stringent control of dyslipidaemia in children with type 1 diabetes.

Calcified Aortic Valve Disease in Patients With Familial Hypercholesterolemia

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a rare autosomal gene deficiency disease with increased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, xanthoma, and premature coronary heart disease. Calcified aortic valve disease (CAVD) is prevalent in FH patients, resulting in adverse events and heavy health care burden. Aortic valve calcification is currently considered an active biological process, which shares several common risk factors with atherosclerosis, including aging, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and so on. Unfortunately, the pathogenesis and therapy of CAVD in FH are still controversial. There is no pharmacological intervention recommended to delay the development of CAVD in FH, and the only effective treatment for severe CAVD is aortic valve replacement. In this review, we summarize the detailed description of the pathophysiology, molecular mechanism, risk factors, and treatment of CAVD in FH patients.