Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors, reality or dream in managing patients with cardiovascular disease.

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors, reality or dream in managing patients with cardiovascular disease. Curr Drug Metab. 2018 Aug 16;: Authors: Alkhalil M Abstract Statins have been a major keystone in the management of patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The benefits of inhibiting HMG CoA reductase, via statins, were translated into reduction in LDL-c (cholesterol) with proportionate decrease in cardiovascular events in response to the magnitude of LDL-c reduction. Despite major advances in pharmacological treatments, including the use of high-dose statins, there are urgent need to further reduce future cardiovascular risk. This is in particularly important since 1 out of 5 high-risk atherosclerotic patients who achieve low LDL-c return with a second cardiovascular event within five years. Although this residual risk post-statin is largely heterogeneous, lowering LDL-c beyond 'normal' or guidelines-recommended level of LDL-c using novel therapies has resulted in further reduction in cardiovascular events. PCSK9 inhibitors are a new class of lipid-lowering drugs that are either fully human monoclonal antibodies (evolocumab and alirocumab) or humanised monoclonal antibodies (bococizumab) that effectively reduce LDL-c to unprecedented level. By blocking circulating PCSK9, these drugs would preserve LDL receptors and prevent them from cellular degradation. This process promotes recycling of...
Source: Current Drug Metabolism - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Tags: Curr Drug Metab Source Type: research