Lowering LDL cholesterol reduces cardiovascular risk independently of presence of inflammation

HMG CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) for people with chronic kidney disease not requiring dialysis

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular disease is the most frequent cause of death in people with early stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD), and the absolute risk of cardiovascular events is similar to people with coronary artery disease. This is an update of a review first published in 2009 and updated in 2014, which included 50 studies (45,285 participants).

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the benefits and harms of statins compared with placebo, no treatment, standard care or another statin in adults with CKD not requiring dialysis.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Kidney and Transplant Register of Studies up to 4 October 2023. Studies in the Register are identified through searches of CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, conference proceedings, the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) Search Portal and ClinicalTrials.gov. An updated search will be undertaken every three months.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs that compared the effects of statins with placebo, no treatment, standard care, or other statins, on death, cardiovascular events, kidney function, toxicity, and lipid levels in adults with CKD (estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) 90 to 15 mL/min/1.73 m2) were included.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two or more authors independently extracted data and assessed the study risk of bias. Treatment effects were expressed as mean difference (MD) for continuous outcomes and risk ratios (RR) for dichotomous benefits and harms with 95% confidence intervals (CI). The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool, and the certainty of the evidence using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 63 studies (50,725 randomised participants); of these, 53 studies (42,752 participants) compared statins with placebo or no treatment. The median duration of follow-up was 12 months (range 2 to 64.8 months), the median dosage of statin was equivalent to 20 mg/day of simvastatin, and participants had a median eGFR of 55 mL/min/1.73 m2. Ten studies (7973 participants) compared two different statin regimens. We were able to meta-analyse 43 studies (41,273 participants). Most studies had limited reporting and hence exhibited unclear risk of bias in most domains. Compared with placebo or standard of care, statins prevent major cardiovascular events (14 studies, 36,156 participants: RR 0.72, 95% CI 0.66 to 0.79; I2 = 39%; high certainty evidence), death (13 studies, 34,978 participants: RR 0.83, 95% CI 0.73 to 0.96; I² = 53%; high certainty evidence), cardiovascular death (8 studies, 19,112 participants: RR 0.77, 95% CI 0.69 to 0.87; I² = 0%; high certainty evidence) and myocardial infarction (10 studies, 9475 participants: RR 0.55, 95% CI 0.42 to 0.73; I² = 0%; moderate certainty evidence). There were too few events to determine if statins made a difference in hospitalisation due to heart failure. Statins probably make little or no difference to stroke (7 studies, 9115 participants: RR 0.64, 95% CI 0.37 to 1.08; I² = 39%; moderate certainty evidence) and kidney failure (3 studies, 6704 participants: RR 0.98, 95% CI 0.91 to 1.05; I² = 0%; moderate certainty evidence) in people with CKD not requiring dialysis. Potential harms from statins were limited by a lack of systematic reporting. Statins compared to placebo may have little or no effect on elevated liver enzymes (7 studies, 7991 participants: RR 0.76, 95% CI 0.39 to 1.50; I² = 0%; low certainty evidence), withdrawal due to adverse events (13 studies, 4219 participants: RR 1.16, 95% CI 0.84 to 1.60; I² = 37%; low certainty evidence), and cancer (2 studies, 5581 participants: RR 1.03, 95% CI 0.82 to 1.30; I² = 0%; low certainty evidence). However, few studies reported rhabdomyolysis or elevated creatinine kinase; hence, we are unable to determine the effect due to very low certainty evidence. Statins reduce the risk of death, major cardiovascular events, and myocardial infarction in people with CKD who did not have cardiovascular disease at baseline (primary prevention). There was insufficient data to determine the benefits and harms of the type of statin therapy.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Statins reduce death and major cardiovascular events by about 20% and probably make no difference to stroke or kidney failure in people with CKD not requiring dialysis. However, due to limited reporting, the effect of statins on elevated creatinine kinase or rhabdomyolysis is unclear. Statins have an important role in the primary prevention of cardiovascular events and death in people who have CKD and do not require dialysis. Editorial note: This is a living systematic review. We will search for new evidence every three months and update the review when we identify relevant new evidence. Please refer to the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews for the current status of this review.

Leukocyte-endothelial interaction in CKD

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) represents an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Accordingly, CKD patients show a substantial increased risk of cardiovascular mortality. Inflammation represents an important link between CKD and CVD. The interaction between endothelial cells and effector cells of the innate immune system plays a central role in the development and progression of inflammation. Vascular injury causes endothelial dysfunction, leading to augmented oxidative stress, increased expression of leukocyte adhesion molecules and chronic inflammation. CKD induces numerous metabolic changes, creating a uremic milieu resulting in the accumulation of various uremic toxins. These toxins lead to vascular injury, endothelial dysfunction and activation of the innate immune system. Recent studies describe CKD-dependent changes in monocytes that promote endothelial dysfunction and thus CKD progression and CKD-associated CVD. The NLR family pyrin domain containing 3-interleukin-1β-interleukin-6 (NLRP3-IL-1β-IL-6) signaling pathway plays a pivotal role in the development and progression of CVD and CKD alike. Several clinical trials are investigating targeted inhibition of this pathway indicating that anti-inflammatory therapeutic strategies may emerge as novel approaches in patients at high cardiovascular risk and nonresolving inflammation. CKD patients in particular would benefit from targeted anti-inflammatory therapy, since conventional therapeutic regimens have limited efficacy in this population.

Dyslipidemia in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: An Updated Overview

Dyslipidemia is a potentially modifiable cardiovascular risk factor. Whereas the recommendations for the treatment target of dyslipidemia in the general population are being more and more rigorous, the 2013 Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes clinical practice guideline for lipid management in chronic kidney disease (CKD) presented a relatively conservative approach with respect to the indication of lipid lowering therapy and therapeutic monitoring among the patients with CKD. This may be largely attributed to the lack of high-quality evidence derived from CKD population, among whom the overall feature of dyslipidemia is considerably distinctive to that of general population. In this review article, we cover the characteristic features of dyslipidemia and impact of dyslipidemia on cardiovascular outcomes in patients with CKD. We also review the current evidence on lipid lowering therapy to modify the risk of cardiovascular events in this population. We finally discuss the association between dyslipidemia and CKD progression and the potential strategy to delay the progression of CKD in relation to lipid lowering therapy.

Innate Immunity System in Patients With Cardiovascular and Kidney Disease

With a global burden of 844 million, chronic kidney disease (CKD) is now considered a public health priority. Cardiovascular risk is pervasive in this population, and low-grade systemic inflammation is an established driver of adverse cardiovascular outcomes in these patients. Accelerated cellular senescence, gut microbiota-dependent immune activation, posttranslational lipoprotein modifications, neuroimmune interactions, osmotic and nonosmotic sodium accumulation, acute kidney injury, and precipitation of crystals in the kidney and the vascular system all concur in determining the unique severity of inflammation in CKD. Cohort studies documented a strong link between various biomarkers of inflammation and the risk of progression to kidney failure and cardiovascular events in patients with CKD. Interventions targeting diverse steps of the innate immune response may reduce the risk of cardiovascular and kidney disease. Among these, inhibition of IL-1β (interleukin-1 beta) signaling by canakinumab reduced the risk for cardiovascular events in patients with coronary heart disease, and this protection was equally strong in patients with and without CKD. Several old (colchicine) and new drugs targeting the innate immune system, like the IL-6 (interleukin 6) antagonist ziltivekimab, are being tested in large randomized clinical trials to thoroughly test the hypothesis that mitigating inflammation may translate into better cardiovascular and kidney outcomes in patients with CKD.

Inflammation drives residual risk in chronic kidney disease: a CANTOS substudy

AIMS

Hyperlipidaemia and inflammation jointly contribute to atherosclerotic disease. Yet, after the initiation of statin therapy, the relative contributions of these processes may differ in patient groups, such as those with and without impaired kidney function.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Among 9151 stable statin-treated post-myocardial infarction patients participating in the CANTOS trial, the contributions of residual cholesterol risk and residual inflammatory risk were evaluated as determinants of recurrent major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and total mortality, stratified by baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) above or below 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 using the race agnostic CKD-EPI 2021 formula (all participants had eGFR > 30 mL/min/1.73 m2). Analyses of residual inflammatory risk focused on high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) while analyses of residual cholesterol risk focused on LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) and non-HDL-cholesterol (non-HDL-C). Participants were followed for a period of up to 5 years (median 3.7 years). Median baseline levels of LDL-C and hsCRP were 81 mg/dL and 4.2 mg/L. Among participants with eGFR ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m2, increasing quartiles of plasma hsCRP, IL-6, LDL-C, and non-HDL-C all positively associated with risks of recurrent MACE [hazard ratios (HR) comparing the top to bottom quartile for hsCRP 1.45; for IL-6 2.48; for LDL-C 1.64; and for non-HDL-C 1.68] (all P < 0.0001). By contrast, among those with eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2, increasing quartiles of hsCRP and IL-6 significantly predicted recurrent MACE [HR comparing the top to bottom quartile for hsCRP 1.50 (P = 0.021); for IL-6 1.84 (P = 0.048)], whereas increasing quartiles of LDL-C and non-HDL-C did not [HR comparing the top to bottom quartile for LDL-C 1.04 (P = 0.80); for non-HDL-C 0.98 (P = 0.88)]. The predictive utility of hsCRP and IL-6 in the setting of eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 remained significant after adjustment for a wide range of potential confounding factors including age, sex, smoking status, blood pressure, body mass index, and diabetes. For the endpoint of total mortality, both hsCRP (HR 1.77, P = 0.0021) and IL-6 (HR 2.15, P = 0.015) were significant predictors among those with eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2, whereas LDL-C (HR 0.91, P = 0.56) and non-HDL-C (HR 0.85, P = 0.31) were not. Similar effects were observed in analyses stratified by the albumin to creatinine ratio rather than eGFR.

CONCLUSION

Among atherosclerosis patients with impaired kidney function already aggressively treated with statin therapy, residual inflammatory risk plays a substantial role in determining the risk of recurrent cardiovascular events. These data have implications for risk stratification of individuals with chronic kidney disease and for the development of novel agents that target inflammatory processes in this high-risk group of patients.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01327846.

Impact of Individual Comorbidities on Survival of Patients with Myelofibrosis

The comorbidity burden is an important risk factor for overall survival (OS) in several hematological malignancies. This observational prospective study was conducted to evaluate the impact of individual comorbidities on survival in a multicenter series of 668 patients with primary myelofibrosis (PMF) or MF secondary to polycythemia vera (PPV-MF) or essential thrombocythemia (PET-MF). Hypertension (hazard ratio (HR) = 4.96, p < 0.001), smoking (HR = 5.08, p < 0.001), dyslipidemia (HR = 4.65, p < 0.001) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) (HR = 4.26, p = 0.015) were most adversely associated with OS. Diabetes (HR = 3.01, p < 0.001), pulmonary disease (HR = 3.13, p < 0.001) and renal dysfunction (HR = 1.82, p = 0.037) were also associated with an increased risk of death. Multivariate analysis showed that pulmonary disease (HR = 2.69, p = 0.001), smoking (HR = 3.34, p < 0.001), renal dysfunction (HR = 2.08, p = 0.043) and HCV (HR = 11.49, p = 0.001) had a negative impact on OS. When ruxolitinib exposure was included in the model, the effect of each comorbidity on survival was modified. Therefore, individual comorbidities should be taken into account in determining the survival prognosis for patients with MF.

Association of Ratio of Apolipoprotein B to Apolipoprotein A1 With Survival in Peritoneal Dialysis

Background

Although the ratio of apolipoprotein B (apo B) to apolipoprotein A1 (apo A1) (apo B/apo A1) seems to be associated with mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients, the association of apo B/apo A1 ratio with death remains not clear in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.

Aims

The study targets to examine the relationship of apo B/apo A1 ratio with survival in patients receiving PD treatment.

Methods

In this single-center prospective observational cohort study, we enrolled 1,616 patients receiving PD treatment with a median follow-up time of 47.6 months. We used a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model to examine the relationship between apo B/apo A1 ratio and cardiovascular (CV) and all-cause mortality. The association of apo B/apo A1 ratio with atherosclerotic and non-atherosclerotic CV mortality was further evaluated by competing risk regression models.

Results

During the follow-up, 508 (31.4%) patients died, 249 (49.0%) died from CV events, of which 149 (59.8%) were atherosclerotic CV mortality. In multivariable models, for 1-SD increase in apo B/apo A1 ratio level, the adjusted hazard ratios for CV and all-cause mortality were 1.26 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.07–1.47; P = 0.005] and 1.20 (95% CI, 1.07–1.35; P = 0.003), respectively. The adjusted subdistribution hazard ratios for atherosclerotic and non-atherosclerotic CV mortality were 1.43 (95% CI, 1.19–1.73; P &lt; 0.001) and 0.85 (95% CI, 0.64–1.13; P = 0.256), respectively. For quartile analysis, patients in quartile 4 had higher CV, all-cause, and atherosclerotic CV mortality compared with those in quartile 1. Moreover, apo B/apo A1 ratio had a diabetes-related difference in CV, all-cause, and atherosclerotic CV mortality.

Conclusion

Elevated apo B/apo A1 ratio level was significantly associated with CV, all-cause, and atherosclerotic CV mortality in patients undergoing PD. Moreover, the association was especially statistically significant in patients with diabetes.

Influence of lipid-lowering drugs on inflammation: what is yet to be done?

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease that is associated with risk of cardiovascular events. The best-characterised and well-standardised clinical indicator of inflammation is C-reactive protein. Current evidence-based drug therapies for prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases are mainly focused on reduction of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. However, these drugs do not provide sufficient protection against recurrent cardiovascular events. One of the possible mechanisms behind this recurrence might be the persistence of residual inflammation. For the most commonly used lipid-lowering drugs, the statins, their reduction of cardiovascular events goes beyond lowering of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Here, we review the effects of these lipid-lowering drugs on inflammation, considering statins, ezetimibe, fibrates, niacin, proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors, bempedoic acid, ethyl eicosapentaenoic acid and antisense oligonucleotides. We focus in particular on C-reactive protein, and discuss how the effects of the statins might be related to reduced rates of cardiovascular events.

Hypochlorite-Modified LDL Induces Arrhythmia and Contractile Dysfunction in Cardiomyocytes

Neutrophil-derived myeloperoxidase (MPO) and its potent oxidant, hypochlorous acid (HOCl), gained attention as important oxidative mediators in cardiac damage and dysfunction. As cardiomyocytes generate low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-like particles, we aimed to identify the footprints of proatherogenic HOCl-LDL, which adversely affects cellular signalling cascades in various cell types, in the human infarcted myocardium. We performed immunohistochemistry for MPO and HOCl-LDL in human myocardial tissue, investigated the impact of HOCl-LDL on electrophysiology and contractility in primary cardiomyocytes, and explored underlying mechanisms in HL-1 cardiomyocytes and human atrial appendages using immunoblot analysis, qPCR, and silencing experiments. HOCl-LDL reduced ICa,L and IK1, and increased INaL, leading to altered action potential characteristics and arrhythmic events including early- and delayed-afterdepolarizations. HOCl-LDL altered the expression and function of CaV1.2, RyR2, NCX1, and SERCA2a, resulting in impaired contractility and Ca2+ homeostasis. Elevated superoxide anion levels and oxidation of CaMKII were mediated via LOX-1 signaling in HL-1 cardiomyocytes. Furthermore, HOCl-LDL-mediated alterations of cardiac contractility and electrophysiology, including arrhythmic events, were ameliorated by the CaMKII inhibitor KN93 and the INaL blocker, ranolazine. This study provides an explanatory framework for the detrimental effects of HOCl-LDL compared to native LDL and cardiac remodeling in patients with high MPO levels during the progression of cardiovascular disease.

Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Chronic Kidney Disease and Dialysis Patients

Significance: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) can be regarded as a burden of lifestyle disease that shares common underpinning features and risk factors with the aging process; it is a complex constituted by several adverse components, including chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, early vascular aging, and cellular senescence. Recent Advances: A systemic approach to tackle CKD, based on mitigating the associated inflammatory, cell stress, and damage processes, has the potential to attenuate the effects of CKD, but it also preempts the development and progression of associated morbidities. In effect, this will enhance health span and compress the period of morbidity. Pharmacological, nutritional, and potentially lifestyle-based interventions are promising therapeutic avenues to achieve such a goal. Critical Issues: In the present review, currents concepts of inflammation and oxidative damage as key patho-mechanisms in CKD are addressed. In particular, potential beneficial but also adverse effects of different systemic interventions in patients with CKD are discussed. Future Directions: Senotherapeutics, the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2-kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (NRF2-KEAP1) signaling pathway, the endocrine klotho axis, inhibitors of the sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2), and live bio-therapeutics have the potential to reduce the burden of CKD and improve quality of life, as well as morbidity and mortality, in this fragile high-risk patient group. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 35, 1426-1448.

Time-dependent lipid profile inversely associates with mortality in hemodialysis patients - independent of inflammation/malnutrition

BACKGROUND

Patients with end-stage kidney disease have an extremely high cardiovascular mortality rate, but there is a paradoxical relationship between lipid profile and survival in haemodialysis patients. To investigate whether inflammation/malnutrition confounds the associations between lipids and mortality, we studied a full lipid profile comprising of five clinically well-established lipid parameters and its associations with mortality in a large, multinational European cohort with a median follow-up >3 years.

METHODS

The association between quartiles of total, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), non-HDL, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, as well as triglyceride, levels and the end-points of all-cause, cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular mortality was assessed in a cohort of 5,382 incident, adult haemodialysis patients from >250 Fresenius Medical Care dialysis centres out of 14 participating countries using baseline and time-dependent Cox models. Analyses were fully adjusted and stratified for inflammation/malnutrition status and other patient-level variables.

RESULTS

Time-dependent quartiles of total, HDL, non-HDL and LDL cholesterol were inversely associated with the hazard for all-cause, cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular mortality. Compared with the lowest quartile of the respective lipid parameter, hazard ratios of other quartiles were <0.86. Similar, albeit weaker, associations were found with baseline lipid profile and mortality. Neither time-dependent nor baseline associations between lipid profile and mortality were affected by inflammation/malnutrition, statin use or geography.

CONCLUSIONS

Baseline and time-dependent lipid profile are inversely associated with mortality in a large, multicentre cohort of incident haemodialysis patients. Inflammation/malnutrition is not a confounder nor effect modificator of the associations between lipid profile and mortality in European haemodialysis patients.

Effect of Origanum dubium, Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum, and Lavandula angustifolia essential oils on lipid profiles and liver biomarkers in athletes

This study aims to determine the effects of essential oils of Origanum dubium (DUB), Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum (HIR), and Lavandula angustifolia (LAV) on lipid profiles and liver biomarkers in athletes. Thirty-four trained athletes were randomly assigned to one of three experimental groups or the control group (CON). The concentrations of serum lipids and liver biomarkers were assessed before and after the 14-day essential oil intervention. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis showed 68.0 and 82.1% carvacrol in DUB and HIR, respectively, and 34.50% linalyl acetate and 33.68% linalool in LAV essential oils. One-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) indicated a significant difference (p = 0.001) among the groups for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) when the associated preintervention values were used as a covariate. The related pairwise comparisons revealed that DUB (p = 0.001) and HIR (p = 0.024) had greater HDL-C values than CON. From the two-way ANOVA, an interaction between time (before vs. after) and the groups (DUB vs. HIR vs. LAV vs. CON) was found for HDL-C (p = 0.030). Findings indicated a significant increase in DUB (p = 0.0001) and HIR (p = 0.010) for HDL-C, and there was a significant decrease in DUB (p = 0.023) for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. However, there was no difference in total cholesterol, triglycerides, and all liver biomarkers.

Telemedicine assists in the management of proatherogenic dyslipidemia and postprandial glucose variability in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a prevalent complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The proatherogenic low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is an established risk factor of cardiovascular disease, and evidence also suggests that postprandial plasma glucose (PPG) levels closely delineate CHD mortality in diabetes. The investigators hypothesized that the addition of telehealth consultation to standard antidiabetic therapy may help to reduce postprandial glucose variability and plasma LDL cholesterol levels in patients with T2DM.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study enrolled patients with newly diagnosed T2DM who received standard antidiabetic therapy with or without additional telehealth consultation. Participants received blood tests for plasma lipid profile and glucose levels at the diagnosis of diabetes and after 1 month of therapeutic intervention. Laboratory results were compared between treatment groups to determine the efficacy of complementary telehealth consultation.

RESULTS

In this study, 375 participants were enrolled. The standard treatment group had considerably greater levels of plasma LDL cholesterol than recipients of telehealth consultation (110 mg/dL vs 93.1 mg/dL, P < 0.001). Moreover, patients receiving standard treatment had greater levels of fasting plasma glucose (104 mg/dL vs 98.5 mg/dL, P = 0.027), 2-h PPG (169 mg/dL vs 111 mg/dL, P < 0.001), and postprandial glucose variability (65.4 mg/dL vs 12.8 mg/dL, P < 0.001) than participants under telehealth consultation.

CONCLUSIONS

Telemedicine in addition to standard antidiabetic therapy helped to reduce plasma LDL cholesterol levels and postprandial glucose variability in patients with newly diagnosed T2DM. Therefore, telehealth consultation is a suitable complement to pharmacologic therapy for diabetic patients to assist in the management of proatherogenic dyslipidemia and postprandial glucose variability.

Non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and mortality among peritoneal dialysis patients

BACKGROUND

The association between non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) and mortality in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD) is unclear.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of non-HDL-C with cardiovascular (CV) and all-cause mortality in PD patients.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective cohort study. A total of 1,616 incident PD patients from a single PD center in South China were followed for a median of 47.6 months. The independent association of non-HDL-C with CV and all-cause mortality was evaluated by a Cox regression analysis.

RESULTS

During the follow-up period, 508 (31.4%) patients died, of which 249 (49.0%) were due to CV events. Atherosclerotic CV mortality accounted for 59.8% of CV mortality. In multivariable models, for 1-SD increase in non-HDL-C level, the hazard ratios (HRs) for CV and all-cause mortality were 1.52  [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.32-1.75; P < 0.001)] and 1.24 (95% CI, 1.12-1.39; P < 0.001), respectively. Furthermore, non-HDL-C was positively associated with atherosclerotic CV mortality (HR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.09-1.52; P = 0.004) but not associated with nonatherosclerotic CV mortality (HR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.59-1.05; P = 0.108). The quartile analyses showed a similar pattern to the continuous variable analyses of non-HDL-C levels for CV and all-cause mortality but did not demonstrate statistical significance for atherosclerotic or nonatherosclerotic CV mortality.

CONCLUSION

An elevated non-HDL-C level was independently associated with an increased risk of CV mortality, especially atherosclerotic CV mortality, and all-cause mortality in incident PD patients.

LDL‑induced NLRC3 inflammasome activation in cardiac fibroblasts contributes to cardiomyocytic dysfunction

Heart failure (HF) is a progressive myocardial disease that affects pulse rate. Notably, chronic inflammation serves a crucial role in cardiac dysfunction and HF. Appropriate cardiomyocyte‑fibroblast communication is essential for cardiac function. In addition, cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) are the main cellular population in the cardiac microenvironment; therefore, determining the role of CFs in HF progression and the associated molecular basis is important. In the present study, ELISAs were performed to detect inflammatory factors in the sera of patients with HF and their association with CF activation was analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient. The mechanism underlying the proinflammatory phenotype of CFs was investigated via western blotting. Notably, the levels of IL10 and TNF‑α were significantly increased in the sera of patients with HF. Further analysis revealed that CFs were extensively activated in the cardiac tissues of patients with HF and released excessive amounts of cytokines, which could impair the viability of cardiomyocytes. Moreover, low‑density lipoprotein (LDL)‑induced NLRC3 inflammasome was activated in CFs, which gave rise to proinflammatory phenotypes. Targeting LDL in CFs significantly improved the functioning of cardiomyocytes and inhibited apoptosis. These findings highlighted the critical role of LDL in inflammasome activation; to the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first to reveal that CF‑induced microenvironmental inflammation may suppress cardiomyocyte viability. The present study established the cellular basis for CF activation during HF progression and provided information on the cellular interactions important for HF treatment.

Interleukin-6 Signaling and Anti-Interleukin-6 Therapeutics in Cardiovascular Disease

IL (interleukin)-6 is a pivotal cytokine of innate immunity, which enacts a broad set of physiological functions traditionally associated with host defense, immune cell regulation, proliferation, and differentiation. Following recognition of innate immune pathways leading from the NLRP3 (NOD-, LRR-, and pyrin domain-containing protein 3) inflammasome to IL-1 to IL-6 and on to the hepatically derived clinical biomarker CRP (C-reactive protein), an expanding literature has led to understanding of the proatherogenic role for IL-6 in cardiovascular disease and thus the potential for IL-6 inhibition as a novel method for vascular protection. In this review, we provide an overview of the mechanisms by which IL-6 signaling occurs and how that impacts upon pharmacological inhibition; describe murine models of IL-6 and atherogenesis; summarize human epidemiological data outlining the utility of IL-6 as a biomarker of vascular risk; outline genetic data suggesting a causal role for IL-6 in systemic atherothrombosis and aneurysm formation; and then detail the potential role of IL-6 inhibition in stable coronary disease, acute coronary syndromes, heart failure, and the atherothrombotic complications associated with chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal failure. Finally, we review anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic findings for ziltivekimab, a novel IL-6 ligand inhibitor being developed specifically for use in atherosclerotic disease and poised to be tested formally in a large-scale cardiovascular outcomes trial focused on individuals with chronic kidney disease and elevated levels of CRP, a population at high residual atherothrombotic risk, high residual inflammatory risk, and considerable unmet clinical need.

The inflammatory state is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and graft fibrosis in kidney transplantation

Several factors, such as donor brain death, ischemia-reperfusion injury, rejection, infection, and chronic allograft dysfunction, may induce an inflammatory state in kidney transplantation. Furthermore, inflammatory cells, cytokines, growth factors, complement and coagulation cascade create an unbalanced interaction with innate and adaptive immunity, which are both heavily involved in atherogenesis. The crosstalk between inflammation and thrombosis may lead to a prothrombotic state and impaired fibrinolysis in kidney transplant recipients increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Inflammation is also associated with elevated levels of fibroblast growth factor 23 and low levels of Klotho, which contribute to major adverse cardiovascular events. Hyperuricemia, glucose intolerance, arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia, and physical inactivity may create a condition called metaflammation that concurs in atherogenesis. Another major consequence of the inflammatory state is the development of chronic hypoxia that through the mediation of interleukins 1 and 6, angiotensin II, and transforming growth factor beta can result in excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix, which can disrupt and replace functional parenchyma, leading to interstitial fibrosis and chronic allograft dysfunction. Lifestyle and regular physical activity may reduce inflammation. Several drugs have been proposed to control the graft inflammatory state, including low-dose aspirin, statins, renin-angiotensin inhibitors, xanthine-oxidase inhibitors, vitamin D supplements, and interleukin-6 blockade. However, no prospective controlled trial with these measures has been conducted in kidney transplantation.

Lactobacillus Strains Alleviated Hyperlipidemia and Liver Steatosis in Aging Rats via Activation of AMPK

In this study, we hypothesized that different strains of Lactobacillus can alleviate hyperlipidemia and liver steatosis via activation of 5′ adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), an enzyme that is involved in cellular energy homeostasis, in aged rats. Male rats were fed with a high-fat diet (HFD) and injected with D-galactose daily over 12 weeks to induce aging. Treatments included (n = 6) (i) normal diet (ND), (ii) HFD, (iii) HFD-statin (lovastatin 2 mg/kg/day), (iv) HFD-Lactobacillus fermentum DR9 (10 log CFU/day), (v) HFD-Lactobacillus plantarum DR7 (10 log CFU/day), and (vi) HFD-Lactobacillus reuteri 8513d (10 log CFU/day). Rats administered with statin, DR9, and 8513d reduced serum total cholesterol levels after eight weeks (p < 0.05), while the administration of DR7 reduced serum triglycerides level after 12 weeks (p < 0.05) as compared to the HFD control. A more prominent effect was observed from the administration of DR7, where positive effects were observed, ranging from hepatic gene expressions to liver histology as compared to the control (p < 0.05); downregulation of hepatic lipid synthesis and β-oxidation gene stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1), upregulation of hepatic sterol excretion genes of ATP-binding cassette subfamily G member 5 and 8 (ABCG5 and ABCG8), lesser degree of liver steatosis, and upregulation of hepatic energy metabolisms genes AMPKα1 and AMPKα2. Taken altogether, this study illustrated that the administration of selected Lactobacillus strains led to improved lipid profiles via activation of energy and lipid metabolisms, suggesting the potentials of Lactobacillus as a promising natural intervention for alleviation of cardiovascular and liver diseases.

Concepts and Controversies: Lipid Management in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) remains an important contributor of morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). CKD is recognized as an important risk enhancer that identifies patients as candidates for more intensive low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol lowering. However, there is controversy regarding the efficacy of lipid-lowering therapy, especially in patients on dialysis. Among patients with CKD, not yet on dialysis, there is clinical trial evidence for the use of statins with or without ezetimibe to reduce ASCVD events. Newer cholesterol lowering agents have been introduced for the management of hyperlipidemia to reduce ASCVD, but these therapies have not been tested in the CKD population except in secondary analyses of patients with primarily CKD stage 3. This review summarizes the role of hyperlipidemia in ASCVD and treatment strategies for hyperlipidemia in the CKD population.

Genetic basis for prediction of non-responders to dietary plant sterol intervention (GenePredict-PS): a study protocol for a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized two-period crossover study

Background

Functional food ingredients and natural health products have been demonstrated to reduce disease risk and thereby help to lower health care costs across populations at risk for chronic or degenerative diseases. However, typically a wide range of interindividual variability exists in response across individuals to nutritional and natural health product bioactives, such as plant sterols (PS). This study aims to determine and utilize information on the associations between genosets and the degree of responsiveness to dietary PS intervention, with a long-term objective of developing genetic tests to predict responses to PS.

Methods

This clinical trial is designed as a double-blind, placebo controlled, randomized two-period crossover study. Sixty-four eligible participants with the specific a priori-determined single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with a responsiveness to PS will consume PS or a placebo treatment for two 4-week periods. The PS treatment consists of two daily single portions of margarine, each providing 1 g PS during the PS period (2.0 g/day of PS in total). The placebo will be an identical margarine containing no added PS. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) responsiveness to the controlled administration of PS will be investigated as the primary outcome, and the associations between interindividual genoset variabilities and response to PS consumption will be determined.

Discussion

This research will provide further insight into whether the associations between previously identified SNPs and the response of LDL-C to PS consumption can be used in a predictive manner. It will also provide insight into the complexities of undertaking a nutrigenetic trial with prospective recruitment based on genotype.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov: Identifier: NCT02765516. Registered on 6 May 2016.

Clinical approach to the inflammatory etiology of cardiovascular diseases

Inflammation is an obligatory marker of arterial disease, both stemming from the inflammatory activity of cholesterol itself and from well-established molecular mechanisms. Raised progenitor cell recruitment after major events and clonal hematopoiesis related mechanisms have provided an improved understanding of factors regulating inflammatory phenomena. Trials with inflammation antagonists have led to an extensive evaluation of biomarkers such as the high sensitivity C reactive protein (hsCRP), not exerting a causative role, but frequently indicative of the individual cardiovascular (CV) risk. Aim of this review is to provide indication on the anti-inflammatory profile of agents of general use in CV prevention, i.e. affecting lipids, blood pressure, diabetes as well nutraceuticals such as n-3 fatty acids. A crucial issue in the evaluation of the benefit of the anti-inflammatory activity is the frequent discordance between a beneficial activity on a major risk factor and associated changes of hsCRP, as in the case of statins vs PCSK9 antagonists. In hypertension, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors exert an optimal anti-inflammatory activity, vs the case of sartans. The remarkable preventive activity of SLGT-2 inhibitors in heart failure is not associated with a clear anti-inflammatory mechanism. Finally, icosapent ethyl has been shown to reduce the CV risk in hypertriglyceridemia, with a 27 % reduction of hsCRP. The inflammation-based approach to arterial disease has considerably gained from an improved understanding of the clinical diagnostic strategy and from a better knowledge on the mode of action of numerous agents, including nutraceuticals.

Association of lipoprotein(a) and major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with percutaneous coronary intervention

INTRODUCTION

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the association between lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in patients with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) treatment.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This was a retrospective study. The demographics, prior medical histories, comorbidities and laboratory parameters were collected from the electronic health record. All participants were followed up for 1 year after the indexed PCI. Studied end points were a composite of MACEs including all-cause mortality, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), non-fatal ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack and stent restenosis.

RESULTS

During 1-year follow-up, 87 MACEs occurred. Compared to patients who did not have MACEs, patients who had MACEs were older, more likely to have higher body mass index, diabetes mellitus and left main lesion, and also had higher baseline low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and Lp(a) levels. All patients in both groups were prescribed aspirin and clopidogrel at discharge. Nearly 97.4% and 95.4% of patients in both groups were treated with statins and a higher proportion of patients in the MACE group were treated with ezetimibe (11.5% vs. 3.5%, p < 0.05). In multivariate regression analysis, diabetes mellitus, LDL-C, Lp(a) and glomerular filtration rate were independent risk factors for MACEs; statin use appeared to be a protective factor for MACEs. Patients with increased Lp(a) level had significantly higher incidence of MACEs than the normal Lp(a) level group (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Baseline serum Lp(a) can be used to predict MACEs in patients after PCI treatment, which was independent of LDL-C.

Lipid management in patients with chronic kidney disease

An increased risk of cardiovascular disease, independent of conventional risk factors, is present even at minor levels of renal impairment and is highest in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) requiring dialysis. Renal dysfunction changes the level, composition and quality of blood lipids in favour of a more atherogenic profile. Patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) or ESRD have a characteristic lipid pattern of hypertriglyceridaemia and low HDL cholesterol levels but normal LDL cholesterol levels. In the general population, a clear relationship exists between LDL cholesterol and major atherosclerotic events. However, in patients with ESRD, LDL cholesterol shows a negative association with these outcomes at below average LDL cholesterol levels and a flat or weakly positive association with mortality at higher LDL cholesterol levels. Overall, the available data suggest that lowering of LDL cholesterol is beneficial for prevention of major atherosclerotic events in patients with CKD and in kidney transplant recipients but is not beneficial in patients requiring dialysis. The 2013 Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Clinical Practice Guideline for Lipid Management in CKD provides simple recommendations for the management of dyslipidaemia in patients with CKD and ESRD. However, emerging data and novel lipid-lowering therapies warrant some reappraisal of these recommendations.

Statins and Cardiovascular Disease Outcomes in Chronic Kidney Disease: Reaffirmation vs. Repudiation

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) burden is several-fold higher in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Although statins have been shown to provide significant CVD benefits in both the general population and patients with CKD, this has not translated into survival advantage in patients with advanced CKD or on dialysis. It has been reported that CVD risk continues to escalate as CKD progresses to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD); however, the CVD risk reduction by statins appears to decline as patients' progress from the early to later stages of CKD. Statins have also been associated with a higher incidence of stroke in ESKD patients. Thus, the CVD benefits of statins in ESKD remain questionable.

Lipids, inflammation, and chronic kidney disease: a SHARP perspective

Accumulating evidence indicates that inflammation plays a role in the initiation and progression of chronic kidney disease. In the Study of Heart and Renal Protection (SHARP) trial, higher baseline C-reactive protein and higher baseline low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were both associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular events, but higher baseline C-reactive protein levels were also associated with a higher risk of nonvascular events. Simvastatin/ezetimibe reduced cardiovascular events independent of baseline C-reactive protein levels. However, this observation does not exclude inflammation as a causal factor for cardiovascular disease development in chronic kidney disease patients.

Lipid lowering drugs and inflammatory changes: an impact on cardiovascular outcomes?

Inflammatory changes are responsible for maintenance of the atherosclerotic process and may underlie some of the most feared vascular complications. Among the multiple mechanisms of inflammation, the arterial deposition of lipids and particularly of cholesterol crystals is the one responsible for the activation of inflammasome NLRP3, followed by the rise of circulating markers, mainly C-reactive protein (CRP). Elevation of lipoproteins, LDL but also VLDL and remnants, associates with increased inflammatory changes and coronary risk. Lipid lowering medications can reduce cholesterolemia and CRP: patients with elevations of both are at greatest cardiovascular (CV) risk and receive maximum benefit from therapy. Evaluation of the major drug series indicates that statins exert the largest LDL and CRP reduction, accompanied by reduced CV events. Other drugs, mainly active on the triglyceride/HDL axis, for example, PPAR agonists, may improve CRP and the lipid pattern, especially in patients with metabolic syndrome. PCSK9 antagonists, the newest most potent medications, do not induce significant changes in inflammatory markers, but patients with the highest baseline CRP levels show the best CV risk reduction. Parallel evaluation of lipids and inflammatory changes clearly indicates a significant link, both guiding to patients at highest risk, and to the best pharmacological approach. Key messages Lipid lowering agents with "pleiotropic" effects provide a more effective approach to CV prevention In CANTOS study, patients achieving on-treatment hsCRP concentrations ≤2 mg/L had a higher benefit in terms of reduction in major CV events The anti-inflammatory activity of PCSK9 antagonists appears to be of a minimal extent.

Disorders of Lipid Metabolism in Chronic Kidney Disease

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in chronic kidney disease (CKD). One of the most important pathophysiological mechanisms for CVD in patients with CKD is the widespread and possibly accelerated formation of atherosclerotic plaques due to hyperlipidemia, uremic toxins, inflammation, oxidative stress, and endothelial dysfunction. Recent studies showed that the level of oxidized low-density lipoprotein cholesterol increases, and that high-­density lipoprotein cholesterol dysfunction occurs as kidney function declines and inflammation becomes more prevalent. In this review, we aimed to discuss the effect of kidney dysfunction, oxidative stress, and inflammation on lipid ­profile.