Effects of statins, fibrates, rosuvastatin, and ezetimibe beyond cholesterol: the modulation of LDL size and subclasses in high-risk patients

PCSK9 inhibitor improves cardiac function and reduces infarct size in rats with ischaemia/reperfusion injury: Benefits beyond lipid-lowering effects

During acute cardiac ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R), an increased plasma proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 (PCSK9) level instigates inflammatory and oxidative processes within ventricular myocytes, resulting in cardiac dysfunction. Therefore, PCSK9 inhibitor (PCSK9i) might exert cardioprotection against I/R injury. However, the effects of PCSK9i on the heart during I/R injury have not been investigated. The effects of PCSK9i given at different time-points during I/R injury on left ventricular (LV) function were investigated. Male Wistar rats were subjected to cardiac I/R injury and divided into 3 treatment groups (n = 10/group): pre-ischaemia, during ischaemia and upon onset of reperfusion. The treatment groups received PCSK9i (Pep2-8, 10 μg/kg) intravenously. A control group (n = 10) received saline solution. During the I/R protocol, arrhythmia scores and LV function were determined. Then, the infarct size, mitochondrial function, mitochondrial dynamics and level of apoptosis were determined. PCSK9i given prior to ischaemia exerted cardioprotection through protection of cardiac mitochondrial function, decreased infarct size and improved LV function, compared with control. PCSK9i administered during ischaemia and upon the onset of reperfusion did not provide any of those benefits. PCSK9i administered before ischaemia exerts cardioprotection, as demonstrated by the attenuation of infarct size and cardiac arrhythmia during cardiac I/R injury. The attenuation is associated with improved mitochondrial function and connexin43 phosphorylation, leading to improved LV function.

Applying metabolomics to cardiometabolic intervention studies and trials: past experiences and a roadmap for the future

Metabolomics and lipidomics are emerging methods for detailed phenotyping of small molecules in samples. It is hoped that such data will: (i) enhance baseline prediction of patient response to pharmacotherapies (beneficial or adverse); (ii) reveal changes in metabolites shortly after initiation of therapy that may predict patient response, including adverse effects, before routine biomarkers are altered; and( iii) give new insights into mechanisms of drug action, particularly where the results of a trial of a new agent were unexpected, and thus help future drug development. In these ways, metabolomics could enhance research findings from intervention studies. This narrative review provides an overview of metabolomics and lipidomics in early clinical intervention studies for investigation of mechanisms of drug action and prediction of drug response (both desired and undesired). We highlight early examples from drug intervention studies associated with cardiometabolic disease. Despite the strengths of such studies, particularly the use of state-of-the-art technologies and advanced statistical methods, currently published studies in the metabolomics arena are largely underpowered and should be considered as hypothesis-generating. In order for metabolomics to meaningfully improve stratified medicine approaches to patient treatment, there is a need for higher quality studies, with better exploitation of biobanks from randomized clinical trials i.e. with large sample size, adjudicated outcomes, standardized procedures, validation cohorts, comparison witth routine biochemistry and both active and control/placebo arms. On the basis of this review, and based on our research experience using clinically established biomarkers, we propose steps to more speedily advance this area of research towards potential clinical impact.

Bergamot Reduces Plasma Lipids, Atherogenic Small Dense LDL, and Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Subjects with Moderate Hypercholesterolemia: A 6 Months Prospective Study

Background: Some patients experience statin-induced side effects or prefer nutraceutical approaches for the treatment of dyslipidemia. This has led to a search for alternative therapeutic approaches for dyslipidemia management. In recent studies Citrus bergamia (known as Bergamot) juice was able to reduce serum levels of lipids. Such benefit may be attributed to high amounts of flavonoids contained in Bergamot fruit juice (neoeriocitrin, neohesperidin, naringin). The aim of the present study was to fully investigate the effects of a Bergamot extract on cardio-metabolic parameters, including plasma lipids, atherogenic lipoproteins and subclinical atherosclerosis.

Methods: Eighty subjects (42 men and 38 women, mean age: 55 ± 13 years) with moderate hypercholesterolemia [e.g., with plasma LDL-cholesterol concentrations between 160 and 190 mg/dl (between 4.1 and 4.9 mmol/l)] were included. A Bergamot-derived extract (Bergavit R^®) was given at a fixed dose daily (150 mg of flavonoids, with 16% of neoeriocitrin, 47% of neohesperidin and 37% of naringin) for 6 months. Lipoprotein subfractions were assessed by gel electrophoresis. With this methodology low density lipoprotein (LDL) subclasses are distributed as seven bands (LDL-1 and -2 as large LDL, and LDL-3 to -7 as atherogenic small, dense LDL). Subclinical atherosclerosis was assessed by carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) using B-mode ultrasound.

Results: After 6 months, Bergavit R^® reduced total cholesterol (from 6.6 ± 0.4 to 5.8 ± 1.1 mmol/l, p < 0.0001), triglycerides (from 1.8 ± 0.6 to 1.5 ± 0.9 mmol/l, p = 0.0020), and LDL-cholesterol (from 4.6 ± 0.2 to 3.7 ± 1.0 mmol/l, p < 0.0001), while HDL- cholesterol increased (from 1.3 ± 0.2 to 1.4 ± 0.4 mmol/l, p < 0.0007). In addition, a significant increase in LDL-1 (from 41.2 ± 0.2 to 49.6 ± 0.2%, p < 0.0001) was accompanied by decreased small, dense LDL-3, -4, and 5 particles (from 14.5 ± 0.1 to 9.0 ± 0.1% p < 0.0001; 3.2 ± 0.1 to 1.5 ± 0.1% p = 0.0053; 0.3 ± 0.0% to 0.1 ± 0.0% p = 0.0133, respectively). cIMT also decreased from 1.2 ± 0.4 to 0.9 ± 0.1 mm (p < 0.0001).

Conclusion: This is the first study investigating the effects of Bergamot flavonoids supplementation on cardio-metabolic risk in dyslipidemic subjects. Bergavit R^® (Bergamot juice extract) supplementation significantly reduced plasma lipids and improved the lipoprotein profile. cIMT was also reduced significantly over a relatively short time frame of 6 months.

Effect of atorvastatin on low-density lipoprotein subpopulations and comparison between indicators of plasma atherogenicity: a pilot study

Treatment with statins to achieve target low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels is still associated with residual risk. Lipoprotein subfraction evaluation can provide additional information regarding atherogenicity in these individuals. Patients (n = 40) with hypercholesterolemia (29 females, mean age 63 years), without previous hypolipemic treatment, were treated with atorvastatin 40 mg/d for 3 months. Atorvastatin significantly reduced total cholesterol (6.7 ± 1.0 vs 4.6 ± 1.3 mmol/L, P < .001), LDL-C (4.3 ± 1.0 vs 2.6 ± 0.9 mmol/L, P < .001), triglycerides (1.8 ± 0.9 vs 1.5 ± 1.00 mmol/L, P < .05), small-dense LDL (sdLDL) fraction 3 to 7 (0.22 ± 0.37 vs 0.09 ± 0.16 mmol/L, P < .001), and apolipoprotein B (apoB; 1.0 ± 0.2 vs 0.74 ± 0.2 g/L, P < .001). There was a negative correlation of atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) with buoyant LDL-1 and LDL-2 (r = -.35; P < .05) and positive with sdLDL-3 to sdLDL-7 (r = .52, P < .001). Administration of atorvastatin 40 mg/d in patients with hypercholesterolemia caused a shift in sdLDL subfractions to large, buoyant subfractions. The AIP better correlated with sdLDL than apoB levels.

Does combination therapy with statins and fibrates prevent cardiovascular disease in diabetic patients with atherogenic mixed dyslipidemia?

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with the development and progression of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Statins have an established efficacy in the management of dyslipidemia primarily by decreasing the levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and thus decreasing CVD risk. They also have a favorable safety profile. Despite the statin-mediated benefit of CVD risk reduction a residual CVD risk remains, especially in T2DM patients with high triglyceride (TG) and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) values. Fibrates decrease TG levels, increase HDL-C concentrations, and improve many other atherosclerosis-related variables. Fibrate/statin co-administration improves the overall lipoprotein profile in patients with mixed dyslipidemia and may reduce the residual CVD risk during statin therapy. However, limited data exists regarding the effects of statin/fibrate combination on CVD outcomes in patients with T2DM. In the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) study the statin/fibrate combination did not significantly reduce the rate of CVD events compared with simvastatin/placebo in patients with T2DM. However, it did show a possible benefit in a pre-specified analysis in the subgroup of patients with high TG and low HDL-C levels. Furthermore, in the ACCORD study the simvastatin/fenofibrate combination significantly reduced the rate of progression of retinopathy compared with statin/placebo administration in patients with T2DM. The present review presents the available data regarding the effects of statin/fibrate combination in patients with T2DM and atherogenic mixed dyslipidemia.

A review of time courses and predictors of lipid changes with fenofibric acid-statin combination

Fibrates activate peroxisome proliferator activated receptor α and exert beneficial effects on triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low density lipoprotein subspecies. Fenofibric acid (FA) has been studied in a large number of patients with mixed dyslipidemia, combined with a low- or moderate-dose statin. The combination of FA with simvastatin, atorvastatin and rosuvastatin resulted in greater improvement of the overall lipid profile compared with the corresponding statin dose. The long-term efficacy of FA combined with low- or moderate- dose statin has been demonstrated in a wide range of patients, including patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, or elderly subjects. The FA and statin combination seems to be a reasonable option to further reduce cardiovascular risk in high-risk populations, although trials examining cardiovascular disease events are missing.

Fenofibrate plus simvastatin (fixed-dose combination) for the treatment of dyslipidaemia

INTRODUCTION

Statin use results in a significant reduction of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. However, patients still have residual CVD risk, even if they are receiving optimal statin treatment.

AREAS COVERED

This review, based on a Pubmed/Scopus search, discusses the available evidence regarding the use of a fixed-dose fenofibrate plus simvastatin combination. This combination is useful for patients with mixed dyslipidaemia because it improves the overall lipoprotein profile. Although in clinical trials the rate of adverse events was not significantly greater than monotherapy, patients who receive combination treatment should be monitored carefully. Furthermore, in the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) Study, this combination did not result in a significant reduction of CVD events compared with simvastatin monotherapy. However, a possible benefit in this trial was observed in the subgroup of patients with high triglyceride and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.

EXPERT OPINION

The fixed-dose fenofibrate plus simvastatin combination treatment produces additive results and is safe when patients are properly monitored. Existing evidence appears to support the addition of fenofibrate to simvastatin treatment for the reduction of residual CVD risk in patients with atherogenic dyslipidaemia. However, this combination did not lead to better clinical outcomes in the absence of dyslipidaemia.

Small dense LDL cholesterol is a robust therapeutic marker of statin treatment in patients with acute coronary syndrome and metabolic syndrome

BACKGROUND

Small dense low-density lipoprotein (sd-LDL) is an atherogenic LDL subfraction and often increased in metabolic syndrome (MetS). This study aimed to determine whether sd-LDL cholesterol (sd-LDL-C) is a therapeutic marker of statin treatment in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and MetS.

METHODS

We examined 71 patients with ACS and 50 non-ACS subjects with normal coronary arteries (controls). The patients with ACS were treated with life-style modifications (n=36) or those plus 20mg atorvastatin daily (n=35) for 6 months. We measured sd-LDL-C by a novel detergent-based homogenous assay and calculated buoyant LDL-C (b-LDL-C).

RESULTS

The patients with ACS had higher sd-LDL-C than did the controls (30±14 vs. 22±8 mg/dl, p<0.001). Furthermore, sd-LDL-C was higher in the patients with ACS and MetS (n=31) than in those without MetS (n=40) (35±17 vs. 27±11 mg/dl, p<0.05). Atorvastatin reduced LDL-C and sd-LDL-C by 31% (102±23 to 70±28 mg/dl, p<0.0001) and 24% (29±15 to 22±13 mg/dl, p<0.01). The reduction in sd-LDL-C by atorvastatin was 5.5-fold greater in the patients with ACS and MetS than in those without MetS (p<0.001). Contrary, that in b-LDL-C was similar between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS

sd-LDL-C is a superior therapeutic marker of statin treatment in patients with ACS and MetS.

Differential effects of fluvastatin alone or in combination with ezetimibe on lipoprotein subfractions in patients at high risk of coronary events

BACKGROUND

Ezetimibe, a cholesterol-absorption inhibitor, significantly lowers low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) when administered in addition to statin treatment. The effect of ezetimibe on the incidence and progression of vascular disease is elusive. The objective of the study was to examine the effects of fluvastatin plus ezetimibe on lipoprotein subfractions in patients with type 2 diabetes and/or coronary heart disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ninety patients with LDL-C between 100 and 160 mg dL(-1) were enrolled in this prospective, randomized, single-blind, single-centre study. A total of 84 patients were treated with either fluvastatin 80 mg (n = 28) alone or in combination with ezetimibe 10 mg (n = 56) for 12 weeks to determine the effects on lipids, apolipoproteins and LDL subfractions by equilibrium density gradient ultracentrifugation. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00814723.

RESULTS

Total cholesterol, LDL-C and apolipoprotein B were significantly more reduced in the combined therapy group. High density lipoproteins increased in the fluvastatin-only group and decreased in the combined therapy group. There was a significant difference between the two groups in buoyant and intermediate, but not in dense LDL particles.

CONCLUSIONS

Addition of ezetimibe to fluvastatin resulted in a further reduction of buoyant and intermediate, but not of dense LDL compared with fluvastatin alone.

Effects of different statin treatments on small dense low-density lipoprotein in patients with metabolic syndrome

AIM

To compare the effects of different low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol-lowering statin treatments on small dense LDL (sd-LDL) in hypercholesterolemic patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS).

METHODS

Forty hypercholesterolemic MetS patients ?30 years of age were randomized to rosuvas-tatin (n=17) or other statins (n=23) groups. In the other statins group, those taking atorvastatin (n=12) were also evaluated separately. Statin doses were 10 mg/day rosuvastatin, 20 mg/day atorvas-tatin, 40 mg/day simvastatin, and 40 mg/day pravastatin. Treatment duration was planned to be 8 weeks. Sd-LDL levels were assessed at baseline and at the completion of treatment.

RESULTS

After treatment, sd-LDL levels were significantly reduced in all 3 groups (from 29.6+/-24.8 mg/dL to 8.9+/-8.5 mg/dL in the rosuvastatin group, p=0.001; from 26.2+/-15 mg/dL to 14.8+/-9.6 mg/dL in the atorvastatin group, p=0.02; and from 29.1+/-16.5 mg/dL to 14.7+/-11.2 mg/dL in the other statins group, p=0.0001). There was no significant difference in the mean percent changes among groups.

CONCLUSION

Significant reduction in sd-LDL levels was observed after 8 weeks of statin treatment in hypercholesterolemic patients with MetS. This effect was similar for all statins and can be considered a class effect.

Quantitative and qualitative effects of rosuvastatin on LDL-cholesterol: what is the clinical significance?

BACKGROUND

Statins have emerged as the global leader in pharmacologic therapy for dyslipidaemia, and rosuvastatin has demonstrated clinical efficacy as well as safety in several clinical trials and postmarketing analyses.

AIM

The present article reviewed the effects of rosuvastatin on the quantity and the quality of low-density lipoproteins (LDL).

METHODS

We searched for and reviewed all the available evidence in a systematic way. A literature search (by Medline and Scopus) was performed using the following headings: 'LDL-cholesterol', 'LDL size', 'LDL subclasses', 'small dense LDL', 'apolipoprotein B, apo B' and 'rosuvastatin' up to 11 November 2008. The authors also manually reviewed the references of selected articles for any pertinent material.

RESULTS

Rosuvastatin reduces LDL-cholesterol levels to a greater extent than other statins and is able to modulate significantly LDL size and subclasses towards less atherogenic particles as well as the LDL particle number, as indirectly measured by the levels of apo B.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

The recent Justification for the Use of statins in Primary prevention: an Intervention Trial Evaluating Rosuvastatin study provides more evidence about the effectiveness of rosuvastatin therapy in reducing cardiovascular risk, even among persons who would not currently be considered for pharmacotherapy. Further insights on cardiovascular outcomes will be available by the on-going trials included in the GALAXY program that includes subjects with type-2 diabetes, haemodialysis recipients, patients with congestive heart failure and specific ethnic groups, such as African American, Hispanic and South Asian populations.

Update on the use of fibrates: focus on bezafibrate

Low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) is a well established coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factor. However, the ability of this metabolic risk factor alone to identify individuals at rigk for future CHD events is limited. The raised triglycerides-low high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) dyslipidaemia was shown to be an important cardiovascular risk factor independently of LDL-C levels. Fibric acid derivatives (fibrates) have been used in clinical practice for more than 2 decades as a class of agents known to decrease triglyceride levels while substantially increasing HDL-C levels. Through peroxisome proliferator-activated alpha-receptors, fibrates have a significant impact on the synthesis of several apolipoproteins and enzymes of lipoprotein metabolism as well as on the expression of several genes involved in fibrinolysis and inflammation. Data from recent primary and secondary prevention clinical trials demonstrate the efficacy of fibrate therapy in patients with the raised triglycerides-low HDL-C dyslipidaemia. This review summarizes current data regarding mechanism of action and the metbolic effects of fibrates, as well as results from major clinical trials on the efficacy of this mode of lipid lowering therapy. In addition, recent data from subgroup analyses of the Bezafibrate Infarction Prevention trial, demonstrating several important metabolic and long-term cardiovascular effects of bezafibrate therapy, are detailed.

Effect of ezetimibe/simvastatin vs atorvastatin on lowering levels of LDL-C and non-HDL-C, ApoB, and hs-CRP in patients with type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND

In addition to low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C), apolipoprotein B (ApoB), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) are considered predictive for cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the proportion of T2DM patients with hypercholesterolemia who attained the optional target level of LDL-C (<70 mg/dL) and additionally non-HDL-C (<100 mg/dL), ApoB (<90 mg/dL), and hs-CRP (<2 mg/L), following treatment with ezetimibe/simvastatin (E/S) vs atorvastatin (A).

METHODS

This post-hoc analysis of a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, 6-week parallel study assessed the proportion of T2DM patients who attained specified LDL-C levels and non-HDL-C, ApoB, and hs-CRP with usual, recommended starting doses of E/S (10/20 mg) vs A (10 or 20 mg) and next highest doses of E/S (10/40 mg) vs A (40 mg) by logistic regression. Baseline triglyceride and hs-CRP effects were also evaluated.

RESULTS

Significantly higher percentages of patients treated with E/S compared to A achieved individual and concurrent target levels of LDL-C (<70 mg/dL), non-HDL-C (<100 mg/dL), and ApoB (<90 mg/dL) at all dose comparisons (P < 0.05 to P < 0.001). Baseline triglyceride levels had no effect on reaching LDL-C levels. Attainment of non-HDL-C (<100 mg/dL), and ApoB (<90 mg/dL) was lower at triglycerides ≥200 mg/dL than <200 mg/dL. Achievement of hs-CRP level (<2 mg/L) was comparable for both treatments. Significantly more patients attained both LDL-C (<70 mg/dL) and hs-CRP (<2 mg/L) at all E/S doses compared to A (P < 0.05 to P < 0.001), regardless of baseline CRP levels.

CONCLUSION

E/S provides a therapeutic option to T2DM patients for lowering not only LDL-C, but also non-HDL-C, ApoB, and hs-CRP. These factors may help guide assessment and treatment of cardiovascular disease risk in these patients.