Effect of Evolocumab in Patients With Prior Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors protect against contrast-associated acute kidney injury in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease

Background and aims

Contrast-associated acute kidney injury (CA-AKI) may occur in patients undergoing medical procedures involving x-rays and radiocontrast media, potentially resulting in prolonged renal impairment. However, no effective treatments are available. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the efficacy of evolocumab, a proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitor, in reducing CA-AKI incidence among patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention between January 2020 and December 2021 at Tianjin Chest Hospital. The study endpoint was CA-AKI incidence, and the impact of selection bias and other potential confounding factors was mitigated using bias matching. Overall, 1,642 patients were included in this study: 821 patients received evolocumab treatment before contrast agent application, and 821 did not receive such treatment.

Results

CA-AKI incidence was 6.21% and 8.04% in the evolocumab and control groups, respectively. After propensity-score matching, the incidence rate was 5.09% and 14.16% in the evolocumab and control groups, respectively. Evolocumab treatment significantly reduced CA-AKI incidence (p < 0.001). Consistent findings were obtained in the subgroups of individuals with type II diabetes mellitus, chronic heart failure, and hypertension. Evolocumab exhibited a significantly greater protective effect in the high- and extremely high-risk populations than in the low- and middle-risk populations (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Evolocumab administration significantly reduced CA-AKI incidence among patients with ASCVD. Notably, this effect was more prominent within the subset of high- and extremely high-risk individuals who were already experiencing CA-AKI.

Current Management of In-Stent Restenosis

In-stent restenosis (ISR) remains the primary cause of target lesion failure following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), resulting in 10-year incidences of target lesion revascularization at a rate of approximately 20%. The treatment of ISR is challenging due to its inherent propensity for recurrence and varying susceptibility to available strategies, influenced by a complex interplay between clinical and lesion-specific conditions. Given the multiple mechanisms contributing to the development of ISR, proper identification of the underlying substrate, especially by using intravascular imaging, becomes pivotal as it can indicate distinct therapeutic requirements. Among standalone treatments, drug-coated balloon (DCB) angioplasty and drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation have been the most effective. The main advantage of a DCB-based approach is the avoidance of an additional metallic layer, which may otherwise enhance neointimal hyperplasia, provide the substratum for developing neoatherosclerosis, and expose the patient to a persistently higher risk of coronary ischemic events. On the other hand, target vessel scaffolding by DES implantation confers relevant mechanical advantages over DCB angioplasty, generally resulting in larger luminal gain, while drug elution from the stent surface ensures the inhibition of neointimal hyperplasia. Nevertheless, repeat stenting with DES also implies an additional permanent metallic layer that may reiterate and promote the mechanisms leading to ISR. Against this background, the selection of either DCB or DES on a patient- and lesion-specific basis as well as the implementation of adjuvant treatments, including cutting/scoring balloons, intravascular lithotripsy, and rotational atherectomy, hold the potential to improve the effectiveness of ISR treatment over time. In this review, we comprehensively assessed the available evidence from randomized trials to define contemporary interventional treatment of ISR and provide insights for future directions.

Association between serum PCSK9 and coronary heart disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is considered a new biomarker for atherosclerosis, but its ability to predict cardiovascular outcomes has been controversial. This study aimed to address the lack of data on PCSK9, coronary heart disease (CHD) severity, and major cardiovascular events (MACEs) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODS

A total of 2984 T2DM patients underwent selective coronary angiography, and their serum PCSK9 levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Correlation and logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the association between PCSK9 expression and CHD severity. This study used Cox regression analysis to assess the association between circulating PCSK9 levels and the risk of MACEs.

RESULTS

Circulating PCSK9 levels were significantly higher in the CHD group than in the non-CHD group [554.62 (265.11) ng/mL vs. 496.86 (129.05) ng/mL, p < 0.001]. Circulating PCSK9 levels positively correlated with CHD severity (diseased vessels: r = 0.35, p < 0.001; Gensini score: r = 0.46, p < 0.001). Elevated PCSK9 levels are an independent risk factor for CHD risk and severity (CHD group vs. non-CHD group: OR = 2.829, 95% CI: 1.771-4.520, p < 0.001; three vessel disease group vs. one vessel disease group: OR = 4.800, 95% CI: 2.387-9.652, p < 0.001; high GS group vs. low GS group: OR = 5.534, 95% CI: 2.733-11.208, p < 0.001). Through a six-year follow-up and multivariate Cox regression analysis, elevated circulating PCSK9 levels were found to be independently associated with MACEs in all participants (HR: 3.416, 5% CI: 2.485-4.697, p < 0.001; adjusted HR: 2.780, 95% CI: 1.930-4.004, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Serum PCSK9 levels were positively correlated with multi-vessel CHD and Gensini score. Elevated circulating PCSK9 levels are an independent risk factor for CHD and increased incidence of MACEs in T2DM.

Effectiveness of lipid-lowering therapy on mortality and major adverse cardiovascular event outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: a network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

BACKGROUND

Emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) can quickly restore myocardial perfusion after acute coronary syndrome. Whether and which lipid-lowering regimens are effective in reducing major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) and mortality risk after PCI remain unclear.

OBJECTIVE

This study assessed the benefits of different lipid-lowering regimens on the risk of MACEs and mortality in the post-PCI population by network meta-analysis.

METHODS

Public databases, including PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library, were searched from inception to August 2022. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on lipid-lowering regimens in post-PCI populations were included and analysed. The outcomes were the incidence of all-cause mortality and MACEs, whether reported as dichotomous variables or as HRs.

RESULTS

Thirty-nine RCTs were included. For MACEs, alirocumab plus rosuvastatin (OR: 0.18; 95% CI: 0.07 to 0.44), evolocumab plus ezetimibe and statins (OR: 0.19; 95% CI: 0.06 to 0.59), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) plus pitavastatin (HR: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.49 to 0.96) and icosapent ethyl plus statins (HR: 0.73; 95% CI: 0.62 to 0.86) had significant advantages and relatively high rankings. For mortality, rosuvastatin (OR: 0.30; 95% CI: 0.11 to 0.84), ezetimibe plus statins (OR: 0.55; 95% CI: 0.43 to 0.89) and icosapent ethyl plus statins (OR: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.45 to 0.96) had significant advantages compared with the control.

CONCLUSION

EPA, especially icosapent ethyl, plus statins had a beneficial effect on reducing the risk of MACEs and mortality in post-PCI patients. Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type-9 inhibitors plus statins were able to reduce the risk of MACEs, but the risk of mortality remained unclear.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42018099600.

Lipoprotein(a) and the Effect of Alirocumab on Revascularization After Acute Coronary Syndrome

BACKGROUND

Many patients require revascularization after index acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Lipoprotein(a) is thought to play a pathogenic role in atherothrombosis. In ODYSSEY OUTCOMES, alirocumab reduced major adverse cardiovascular events after ACS, with greater reduction among those with higher lipoprotein(a) levels. We explored whether risk of revascularization after ACS was modified by the level of lipoprotein(a) and treatment with alirocumab or placebo.

METHODS

In ODYSSEY OUTCOMES alirocumab was compared with placebo in 18,924 patients with ACS and elevated atherogenic lipoprotein levels despite optimized statin treatment. In this post hoc analysis, treatment effects are summarized using competing risks proportional hazard models.

RESULTS

A total of 1559 (8.2%) patients had coronary, 204 (1.1%) had limb, and 40 (0.2%) had carotid revascularization. Alirocumab reduced coronary revascularization (2.8 vs 3.2 events per 100 patient-years; hazard ratio [HR], 0.88 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.80-0.97]; P = 0.01) and any revascularization (3.2 vs 3.7 events per 100 patient-years; HR, 0.85 [95% CI, 0.78-0.94]; P = 0.001). Baseline lipoprotein(a) quartile was directly associated with risk of coronary or any revascularization in the placebo arm and inversely related to treatment HRs (all P for trend < 0.01). Alirocumab produced the greatest reduction of coronary revascularization in patients with baseline lipoprotein(a) in the top quartile (≥ 59.6 mg/dL; HR, 0.69 [95% CI, 0.57-0.84]), but no apparent reduction in the bottom quartile (HR, 1.00 [95% CI, 0.82-1.22]). Findings were similar for the effect of alirocumab on any revascularization.

CONCLUSIONS

Alirocumab reduced revascularization rates after ACS. The risk of revascularization and reduction in that risk with alirocumab were greatest in patients with elevated lipoprotein(a) at baseline.

Combination Lipid-Lowering Therapy in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

BACKGROUND

The RACING (randomized comparison of efficacy and safety of lipid-lowering with statin monotherapy versus statin/ezetimibe combination for high-risk cardiovascular diseases) trial examined the effects of combination therapy with moderate-intensity statin and ezetimibe in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease compared with high-intensity statin monotherapy.

OBJECTIVES

This observational study was conducted to evaluate the impact of 2 treatment strategies used in the RACING trial in clinical practice.

METHODS

After stabilized inverse probability of treatment weighting, a total of 72,050 patients who were prescribed rosuvastatin after drug-eluting stent implantation were identified from a nationwide cohort database: 10,794 patients with rosuvastatin 10 mg plus ezetimibe 10 mg (combination lipid-lowering therapy) and 61,256 patients with rosuvastatin 20 mg monotherapy. The primary endpoint was the 3-year composite event of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, coronary artery revascularization, hospitalization for heart failure treatment, or nonfatal stroke in accordance with the RACING trial.

RESULTS

Combination lipid-lowering therapy was associated with a lower occurrence of the primary endpoint (11.6% vs 15.2% for those with high-intensity statin monotherapy; HR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.70-0.79; P < 0.001). Compared with high-intensity statin monotherapy, combination lipid-lowering therapy was associated with fewer discontinuations of statin (6.5% vs 7.6%; HR: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.78-0.94: P < 0.001) and a lower occurrence of new-onset diabetes requiring medication (7.7% vs 9.6%; HR: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.72-0.88; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

In clinical practice, combination lipid-lowering therapy with ezetimibe and moderate-intensity statin was associated with favorable clinical outcomes and drug compliance in patients treated with drug-eluting stent implantation. (CONNECT DES Registry; NCT04715594).

Efficacy and safety of moderate-intensity statin with ezetimibe combination therapy in patients after percutaneous coronary intervention: a post-hoc analysis of the RACING trial

Background

Moderate-intensity statin role with ezetimibe combination therapy following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has not been thoroughly investigated, particularly compared to high-intensity statin monotherapy. We aimed to investigate the effect of ezetimibe combination with moderate-intensity statin in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease following PCI.

Methods

This was a post-hoc analysis of a subset of patients who underwent PCI in the RACING trial. At 26 centres in South Korea, patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) were randomly assigned to receive either moderate-intensity statin with ezetimibe combination therapy (rosuvastatin 10 mg with ezetimibe 10 mg) or high-intensity statin monotherapy (rosuvastatin 20 mg). The prespecified endpoints of the RACING trial were used. The primary endpoint was the 3-year composite of cardiovascular death, major cardiovascular events, and nonfatal stroke. Event rates between the two groups were compared using log-rank tests, and hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using Cox regression analysis. Consistent with the RACING trial, the primary and secondary efficacy endpoints were evaluated using an intention-to-treatment approach, and the safety endpoints were assessed in the safety population. The RACING trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03044665).

Findings

Between Feb 14, 2017, and Dec 18, 2018, 3780 participants were enrolled in the RACING trial. Prior history of PCI was found in 2497 patients (67%, median 64 years, 79% male), and was associated with higher rates of the primary endpoint (hazard ratio [HR], 1.34; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06-1.69; p = 0.014). Among patients with prior PCI, moderate-intensity statin therapy with ezetimibe combination versus high-intensity statin therapy did not increase the risk of the primary endpoint (HR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.74-1.24; p = 0.781). The proportion of patients with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) <70 mg/dL at 1, 2, and 3 years was 74%, 76%, and 73%, respectively, in the combination therapy group, and was significantly higher than that in the high-intensity statin monotherapy group (57%, 62%, and 59%, respectively, all p < 0.001). Discontinuation of lipid-lowering drugs occurred less frequently in the combination group (4.2% vs. 7.6%, p = 0.001).

Interpretation

The effects of ezetimibe combination therapy observed in the RACING trial were consistently preserved among patients with ASCVD following PCI. Ezetimibe combination could be considered as a suitable therapeutic strategy to achieve strict control of LDL-C and reduce drug intolerance in patients who underwent PCI.

Funding

Hanmi Pharmaceutical, Seoul, South Korea.

Coronary In-Stent Restenosis: JACC State-of-the-Art Review

The introduction and subsequent iterations of drug-eluting stent technologies have substantially improved the efficacy and safety of percutaneous coronary interventions. However, the incidence of in-stent restenosis (ISR) and the resultant need for repeated revascularization still occur at a rate of 1%-2% per year. Given that millions of drug-eluting stents are implanted each year around the globe, ISR can be considered as a pathologic entity of public health significance. The mechanisms of ISR are multifactorial. Since the first description of the angiographic patterns of ISR, the advent of intracoronary imaging has further elucidated the mechanisms and patterns of ISR. The armamentarium and treatment strategies of ISR have also evolved over time. Currently, an individualized approach using intracoronary imaging to characterize the underlying substrate of ISR is recommended. In this paper, we comprehensively reviewed the incidence, mechanisms, and imaging characterization of ISR and propose a contemporary treatment algorithm.

Effect of Early Initiation of Evolocumab on Lipoprotein(a) in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction: Sub-Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial

Elevated circulating lipoprotein(a) levels are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events. We reported that early initiation of evolocumab, a proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitor, in addition to a statin substantially reduced the lipoprotein(a) levels in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This sub-analysis sought to investigate the effect of evolocumab on lipoprotein(a) based on baseline lipoprotein(a) levels and characteristics. This study was a prespecified analysis of a randomized controlled trial that enrolled 102 patients who underwent primary PCI for AMI. Patients received pitavastatin (2 mg/day) alone or pitavastatin and evolocumab 140 mg subcutaneously within 24 h and 2 weeks after the index PCI. The evolocumab group showed significantly suppressed lipoprotein(a) levels in patients with baseline lipoprotein(a) levels of ≤10 mg/dL, 10 < lipoprotein(a) ≤ 20 mg/dL, and >20 mg/dL compared with the control group, as well as similar reductions in lipoprotein(a) levels in all patient subgroups. Among these subgroups, evolocumab tended to show more favorable effects in patients with diabetes mellitus. In AMI patients, early initiation of evolocumab therapy within 24 h of primary PCI suppressed the increase in lipoprotein(a) levels within 4 weeks, regardless of baseline levels and characteristics.