Global Hypercoagulability in Patients with Schizophrenia Receiving Long-Term Antipsychotic Therapy

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Global Hypercoagulability in Patients with Schizophrenia Receiving Long-Term Antipsychotic Therapy Schizophrenia Research 162 (2015) 175–182 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Schizophrenia Research journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/schres Global hypercoagulability in patients with schizophrenia receiving long-term antipsychotic therapy Vincent Chow a,b,c,CarolineReddela,b,c, Gabrielle Pennings a,b,c, Elizabeth Scott d,TundraPasqualone, Austin C.C. Ng b,c,ThomasYeohb, Jennifer Curnow a,c,f, Leonard Kritharides a,b,c,⁎ a ANZAC Research Institute, Sydney, Australia b Department of Cardiology, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, Australia c University of Sydney, Australia d Brain & Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney, Australia e Department of Psychiatry, Croydon Health Centre, Sydney, Australia f Department of Haematology, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, Australia article info abstract Article history: Background: Patients with schizophrenia are at increased risk of venous thromboembolism. The mechanisms Received 21 January 2014 underlying this association are poorly understood. Received in revised form 4 December 2014 Aims: We investigated whether there is a global hypercoagulable state in patients with schizophrenia utilising the Accepted 6 December 2014 overall haemostatic potential (OHP) assay which assesses overall coagulation potential (OCP), haemostatic Available online 27 January 2015 potential (OHP) and fibrinolytic potential (OFP). Method: Citrated plasma was collected for OHP assays from patients with schizophrenia on long-term antipsy- Keywords: chotic treatment and compared with healthy age- and sex-matched controls. Time courses of fibrin formation Schizophrenia Blood coagulation test and degradation were measured by spectrophotometry (absorption of 405 nm) after the addition of tissue factor Coagulation and tissue plasminogen activator to plasma. Thrombosis Results: Ninety patients with schizophrenia (antipsychotic treatment-15.9 ± 9.7 years) and 30 controls were Fibrinolysis recruited. Patients with schizophrenia had higher rates of smoking and levels of inflammatory markers (high- sensitivity C-reactive protein and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio) than controls. Whilst D-dimer, fibrinogen and platelet count did not differ between patients with schizophrenia and controls, the OCP (54.0 ± 12.6 vs 45.9 ± 9.1, p = 0.002) and OHP (12.6 ± 5.8 vs 7.2 ± 3.7, p b 0.001) were higher, and OFP was lower (76.6 ± 9.8% vs 84.9 ± 6.4%, p b 0.001) in patients with schizophrenia, implying both a hypercoagulable and hypofibrinolytic state in these patients. Importantly, abnormalities in overall coagulation were independently predicted by levels of plasminogen-activator-inhibitor-1, fibrinogen, platelet count, inflammatory markers and plasma triglycerides, suggesting a multifactorial aetiology. Conclusion: Patients with schizophrenia have evidence of a global hypercoagulable and hypofibrinolytic state which may contribute to their increased risk of venous thromboembolism. © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction reports of increased incidence of VTE amongst patients receiving con- ventional antipsychotic medications (Varia et al., 1983; Roche-Bayard Patients with schizophrenia have an increased risk of venous throm- et al., 1990)wereconfirmed by larger case–control studies which boembolic disease and other cardiovascular diseases. This increased reported a seven-fold increase in risk of VTE (Zornberg and Jick, 2000) risk is attributed to multiple factors including conventional risk factors and 13-fold increase risk of fatal pulmonary embolism (PE) (Parkin for cardiovascular disease such as smoking, obesity, the metabolic et al., 2003). There is some evidence of higher risk amongst new users syndrome and systemic inflammation. Other specific factors may and those receiving atypical antipsychotic medications (Walker et al., include immobility, catatonia during severe illness and the use of anti- 1997; Hagg et al., 2009; Parker et al., 2010). VTE has a reported early psychotic medications (both conventional and atypical). Early case case fatality rate of 7–11% (Stein et al., 2004), and a reported 5-year cumulative mortality rate of up to 32% (Ng et al., 2011). An increased risk of VTE occurs when at least one of Virchow's triad ⁎ Corresponding author at: Department of Cardiology, Concord Repatriation General is present (i.e. vascular endothelial damage, stasis of blood flow, and/or Hospital, Level 3 West, Hospital Road, Concord, NSW 2139, Australia. Tel.: +61 2 9767 7359; fax: +61 2 9767 6994. hypercoagulability of blood) (Anderson and Spencer, 2003). In the most E-mail address: [email protected] (L. Kritharides). recent VTE guidelines and current literature, hypercoagulability has http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2014.12.042 0920-9964/© 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. 176 V. Chow et al. / Schizophrenia Research 162 (2015) 175–182 been shown to increase the risk of VTE by 2–9 fold in the general popu- cardiac evaluation and screening of patients with schizophrenia receiv- lation (Rogers et al., 2012; Authors/Task Force et al., 2014). ing antipsychotic treatment were recruited. The control groups com- Appropriate risk stratification for VTE risk and development of prised of healthy volunteers of similar age and gender with no prior prevention strategies requires a clear understanding of the mechanisms history of schizophrenia or VTE or ischaemic heart disease and those involved, and very few studies have directly quantified or addressed the not receiving antipsychotic or long-term anticoagulation medications. mechanisms of increased thrombotic risk in patients with schizophrenia Amongst the 90 patients with schizophrenia, there were no patients receiving long-term antipsychotic treatment. Overall coagulation and receiving conventional neuroleptics. 68/90 (76%) of patients were fibrinolysis are determined by the interplay between pro-coagulant receiving clozapine treatment, and the remaining 22 patients received factors such as factor VIII (FVIII) and plasminogen activator inhibitor the following treatment: olanzapine (6), aripiprazole (4), quetiapine type-1 (PAI-1), and anti-coagulant factors such as protein C and protein (4), paliperidone (4), risperidone (2), amisulpride (1) and zuclopenthixol S. FVIII is an important component of the intrinsic coagulation pathway (1). Patients were excluded if they: 1) were prescribed an antipsychotic and is responsible for the amplification of the coagulation cascade after medication for less than one year; 2) deemed noncompliant with initial thrombin generation (Furie and Furie, 2008). PAI-1 is one of the antipsychotic medications based on psychiatry reviews and serum most important inhibitors of the plasma fibrinolytic activity and is clozapine levels for patients receiving this drug; 3) had previous raised in inflammatory states, atherosclerosis and obesity (Cesari et al., history of VTE (PE and/or deep vein thrombosis [DVT]); 4) had symp- 2010). Elevated levels of FVIII and PAI-1 have been shown to increase toms suggestive of ischaemic heart disease and/or were found to the risk of VTE by 4.8-fold (Koster et al., 1995a; Jenkins et al., 2012b) have ischaemic heart disease on functional testing or 5) receiving and 1.6-fold (Meltzer et al., 2010) respectively. Proteins C and S exert long-term oral anticoagulation. All patients with schizophrenia met anticoagulant effects by inactivating coagulation factors V and VIII. DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for a schizophrenic disorder according Patients with protein C and S deficiencies have a 7.3–8.5 fold lifetime to the guidelines of the American Psychiatric Association (1994). increased risk of VTE (Koster et al., 1995b). This cross-sectional study was approved by the institutional Human Previous studies have found inconsistent associations between FVIII Ethics Committees. levels (Bank et al., 2007; Jenkins et al., 2012a), protein C and S levels (Mahmoodi et al., 2010; Bucciarelli et al., 2012), PAI-1 levels (Yukizawa et al., 2012), direct effects of antipsychotics (Carrizo et al., 2.2. Overall haemostatic potential (OHP) assay 2008) and VTE risk in these patients (Reitter-Pfoertner et al., 2013). Conventional testing for thrombophilia involves screening for specific Blood samples were collected by venipuncture from the cubital vein individual abnormalities in haemostasis which can be costly and with a 21 gauge butterfly needle. The tourniquet was removed and the prone to misinterpretation (Jennings et al., 2005). Consequently, cur- first 3 ml of blood was discarded. Blood was collected into BD rent guidelines do not recommend routine screening for heritable Vacutainer 0.109 M sodium citrate tubes (Becton-Dickinson, Franklin thrombophilia in asymptomatic individuals (Baglin et al., 2010; Lakes, NJ, USA) then centrifuged for 10 minutes (min) at 23 °C and Middeldorp, 2011a). 2500 g (Eppendorf 5804 R, USA). The plasma supernatant was centri- As the underlying biological mechanisms by which patients with fuged under the same conditions to produce platelet-poor plasma. We schizophrenia develop VTE are likely multifactorial, these may lend used a modified OHP assay based on that described by Blomback (He themselves to investigation by global coagulation assays rather et al., 1999, 2001; Curnow et al., 2007). Fibrin time curves were gener- than by measuring individual factors. The overall haemostatic ated in microtiter plate wells and plasmas were tested in duplicate. potential (OHP) assay is a simple, validated and inexpensive
Recommended publications
  • Lipid Lowering Agents, Cognitive Decline, and Dementia: the Three-City Study
    Lipid lowering agents, cognitive decline, and dementia: the three-city study. Marie-Laure Ancelin, Isabelle Carrière, Pascale Barberger-Gateau, Sophie Auriacombe, Olivier Rouaud, Spiros Fourlanos, Claudine Berr, Anne-Marie Dupuy, Karen Ritchie To cite this version: Marie-Laure Ancelin, Isabelle Carrière, Pascale Barberger-Gateau, Sophie Auriacombe, Olivier Rouaud, et al.. Lipid lowering agents, cognitive decline, and dementia: the three-city study.: Lipid Lowering Agents and Cognitive Decline. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, IOS Press, 2012, 30 (3), pp.629-37. 10.3233/JAD-2012-120064. inserm-00707350 HAL Id: inserm-00707350 https://www.hal.inserm.fr/inserm-00707350 Submitted on 12 Jun 2012 HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents entific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, lished or not. The documents may come from émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de teaching and research institutions in France or recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires abroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou privés. Lipid lowering agents, cognitive decline, and dementia: the three-city study Marie-Laure Ancelin 1 * , Isabelle Carrière 1 , Pascale Barberger-Gateau 2 , Sophie Auriacombe 2 , Olivier Rouaud 3 , Spiros Fourlanos 4 , Claudine Berr 1 , Anne-Marie Dupuy 1 5 , Karen Ritchie 1 6 1 Neuropsychiatrie : Recherche Epidémiologique
    [Show full text]
  • Stems for Nonproprietary Drug Names
    USAN STEM LIST STEM DEFINITION EXAMPLES -abine (see -arabine, -citabine) -ac anti-inflammatory agents (acetic acid derivatives) bromfenac dexpemedolac -acetam (see -racetam) -adol or analgesics (mixed opiate receptor agonists/ tazadolene -adol- antagonists) spiradolene levonantradol -adox antibacterials (quinoline dioxide derivatives) carbadox -afenone antiarrhythmics (propafenone derivatives) alprafenone diprafenonex -afil PDE5 inhibitors tadalafil -aj- antiarrhythmics (ajmaline derivatives) lorajmine -aldrate antacid aluminum salts magaldrate -algron alpha1 - and alpha2 - adrenoreceptor agonists dabuzalgron -alol combined alpha and beta blockers labetalol medroxalol -amidis antimyloidotics tafamidis -amivir (see -vir) -ampa ionotropic non-NMDA glutamate receptors (AMPA and/or KA receptors) subgroup: -ampanel antagonists becampanel -ampator modulators forampator -anib angiogenesis inhibitors pegaptanib cediranib 1 subgroup: -siranib siRNA bevasiranib -andr- androgens nandrolone -anserin serotonin 5-HT2 receptor antagonists altanserin tropanserin adatanserin -antel anthelmintics (undefined group) carbantel subgroup: -quantel 2-deoxoparaherquamide A derivatives derquantel -antrone antineoplastics; anthraquinone derivatives pixantrone -apsel P-selectin antagonists torapsel -arabine antineoplastics (arabinofuranosyl derivatives) fazarabine fludarabine aril-, -aril, -aril- antiviral (arildone derivatives) pleconaril arildone fosarilate -arit antirheumatics (lobenzarit type) lobenzarit clobuzarit -arol anticoagulants (dicumarol type) dicumarol
    [Show full text]
  • The Effects of Statin and Fibrate Drugs on Cholesterol Metabolism And
    The effects of statin and fibrate drugs on cholesterol metabolism and steroid production in two fish species. By Aziz Al-Habsi Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies University of Ottawa In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the PhD degree in the Ottawa-Carleton Institute of Biology Thèse soumise à la Faculté des Études Supérieurs et Postdoctorales Université d’Ottawa En vue de la réalisation partielle du doctorat à L’Institut de Biologie Ottawa-Carleton ©Aziz Al-Habsi, Ottawa, Canada, 2014 This thesis is dedicated to my wife and children who have always stood by me and dealt with all my absence from many family occasions with a smile. ii Acknowledgments Completing a PhD is truly a marathon event, and I would not have able to complete this journey without the aid and support of countless people over the past seven years. First and foremost I would like to gratefully and sincerely thank my supervisor Dr. Thomas W. Moon for his guidance, understanding, friendship, and most importantly, his patience during my graduate studies at University of Ottawa. His mentorship was paramount in providing a well-rounded experience consistent my long-term career goals. He encouraged me not only to be a biologist but also be an instructor and independent thinker. I am not sure many graduate students are given the opportunity to develop their own individuality and self- sufficiency by being allowed to work with such independence. For everything you’ve done for me, Dr. Moon, I thank you. I would like to extend my thanks the Department of Biology at University of Ottawa, especially those members of my doctoral committee for their input, valuable discussions and accessibility.
    [Show full text]
  • Lipid Management Protocol
    Lipid Management Protocol RISK GOALS FOR CLINICAL MANAGEMENT LIFESTYLE CATEGORIES THERAPY INTERVENTIONS MODIFICATIONS Evaluate for ten (10) Initial Assessment: Recommendations years CVD risk. • Assess fasting lipid panel (FLP) for • Encourage weight loss/ baseline. LDL is primary focus. management. Risk Factors include: • Smoking • If LDL-C cannot be calculated due to • Promote increased daily • Hypertension elevated triglyceride level, order LDL-C physical activity. • Dyslipidemia direct measurement or calculate Non-HDL • Low HDL (Exclusive cholesterol. • Referral for medical of LDL) nutrition therapy (covered • Diabetes • FLP within 24 hours of hospitalization for by most payers) • Obesity an acute event and recheck FLP in 12 • Family History weeks. - Limit diet to <7% • Age saturated fats and <200 Men ≥ 45 • Periodically recheck FLP thereafter until mg/dL of cholesterol Women ≥ 55 goal values are met. from total calories. Metabolic Syndrome* • Consider fasting glucose on all initial - Increased consumption protocols and prn. of monounsaturated fatty acids (olive/ peanut/ canola oils, RISK CATEGORIES nuts/peanut butter, avocado, olives). 0-1 Low Risk (<10% in 10 yrs) LDL<160 and • If LDL is ≥ 130 mg/dL (Baseline or on - Include 6 oz. of fish/wk, Non-HDL<190 treatment) start or intensify lipid lowering specifying tuna, herring Ideal <130 therapy to reach goal (statin preferred). or salmon or 1000 mg and Non- (If patient is hospitalized, start statin.) fish oil per day. HDL<160 2 + Moderate Risk • If LDL 100-129 mg/dL (Baseline or on - Encourage increased (10 - 20% in 10 yrs) treatment): consumption of complex LDL<130 and - Start lipid lowering therapy (statin carbohydrates. Non-HDL<160 preferred).
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Lipid Lowering Agents, Cognitive Decline, and Dementia
    Lipid Lowering Agents, Cognitive Decline, and Dementia: The Three-City Study Marie-Laure Ancelin, PhD.a,b,§,*, Isabelle Carrière, PhD.a,b,§, Pascale Barberger-Gateau PhD.c, Sophie Auriacombe, MDc, Olivier Rouaud, MDd, Spiros Fourlanos, MD, PhD.e, Claudine Berr, PhD.a,b, Anne-Marie Dupuy, PhD.a,b,f, Karen Ritchie, PhD.a,b,g Running title: Lipid Lowering Agents and Cognitive Decline a Inserm, U1061, Montpellier, F-34093 France b Université Montpellier 1, Montpellier, France c Inserm, U897, Bordeaux, F-33076 France d Centre Mémoire Ressources et Recherche, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Dijon, France e Department of Diabetes & Endocrinology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia f CHU Montpellier, Laboratoire de Biochimie, Hopital Lapeyronie, Montpellier, France g Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, London, W12 0NN, U.K. *Corresponding author: Inserm U1061, Hopital La Colombiere, 39, avenue C. Flahault, BP 34493, 34093 Montpellier Cedex 5, France Tel: +33 499 614 562; Fax: +33 499 614 579; E-mail address: [email protected] § Joint first authors Declaration of interest: No conflict of interest. Paper length: 2863 words Title character count: 67 Abstract: 231 words 3 Tables 1 Abstract The aim of this prospective cohort study was to evaluate the effects of lipid lowering agent (LLA) intake on cognitive function in 6830 community-dwelling elderly persons. Cognitive performance (global cognitive functioning, visual memory, verbal fluency, psychomotor speed and executive function), clinical diagnosis of dementia, and fibrate and statin use, were evaluated at baseline, and 2, 4, and 7 year follow-up. Multivariate Cox models were stratified by gender and adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics, mental and physical health including vascular risk factors, and genetic vulnerability (apolipoprotein E and cholesteryl ester transfer protein).
    [Show full text]
  • UMHS Guideline Screening and Management of Lipids
    Guidelines for Clinical Care Quality Department Ambulatory Lipid Therapy Screening and Management of Lipids Guideline Team Team Leader Patient population: Adults age 20–79 years without familial or severe dyslipidemias or chronic Audrey L. Fan, MD kidney disease (CKD). (In patients with CKD, see UMHS Management of Chronic Kidney Disease.) General Medicine Objective: Primary and secondary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) Team Members through lipid screening, determining treatment benefit and risk, and providing appropriate treatment. Jill N. Fenske, MD Family Medicine Key Points R. Van Harrison, PhD Obtain a screening / baseline lipid profile Medical Education Patients. Men age ≥ 35 and women age ≥ 45 years. Also men age 20–35 and women age 20–45 who are Melvyn Rubenfire, MD at increased risk for ASCVD [IC*]. Can also consider a screening or baseline lipid profile in adults Cardiology age ≥ 20 when assessing traditional ASCVD risk factors (age, sex, total cholesterol, HDL-C, systolic Marie A. Marcelino, BP, use of antihypertensive therapy, diabetes, and smoking) [IIC*]. PharmD Fasting/non-fasting. Screening lipid profile can be obtained fasting or non-fasting. Pharmacy Services Prior to considering drug treatment for dyslipidemias at any age exclude secondary causes (Table 1). Consultant, 2020 revision Assess ASCVD risk. Does the patient have any of the following risk factors? Trisha D. Wells, PharmD Clinical ASCVD. This includes stroke/TIA, carotid and peripheral arterial disease, and clinical evidence Pharmacy Services of coronary heart disease. Initial Release LDL-C ≥ 190 mg/dL and age ≥ 20, not caused by drugs or an underlying medical condition (Table 1). May 2000 Diabetes mellitus type 1 or 2, and age 40–75 years, with LDL-C 70–189 mg/dL.
    [Show full text]
  • Metabolic Regulation by Lipid Activated Receptors by Maxwell A
    Metabolic Regulation by Lipid Activated Receptors By Maxwell A Ruby A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy In Molecular & Biochemical Nutrition In the Graduate Division Of the University of California, Berkeley Committee in charge: Professor Marc K. Hellerstein, Chair Professor Ronald M. Krauss Professor George A. Brooks Professor Andreas Stahl Fall 2010 Abstract Metabolic Regulation by Lipid Activated Receptors By Maxwell Alexander Ruby Doctor of Philosophy in Molecular & Biochemical Nutrition University of California, Berkeley Professor Marc K. Hellerstein, Chair Obesity and related metabolic disorders have reached epidemic levels with dire public health consequences. Efforts to stem the tide focus on behavioral and pharmacological interventions. Several hypolipidemic pharmaceutical agents target endogenous lipid receptors, including the peroxisomal proliferator activated receptor α (PPAR α) and cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1). To further the understanding of these clinically relevant receptors, we elucidated the biochemical basis of PPAR α activation by lipoprotein lipolysis products and the metabolic and transcriptional responses to elevated endocannabinoid signaling. PPAR α is activated by fatty acids and their derivatives in vitro. While several specific pathways have been implicated in the generation of PPAR α ligands, we focused on lipoprotein lipase mediated lipolysis of triglyceride rich lipoproteins. Fatty acids activated PPAR α similarly to VLDL lipolytic products. Unbound fatty acid concentration determined the extent of PPAR α activation. Lipolysis of VLDL, but not physiological unbound fatty acid concentrations, created the fatty acid uptake necessary to stimulate PPAR α. Consistent with a role for vascular lipases in the activation of PPAR α, administration of a lipase inhibitor (p-407) prevented PPAR α dependent induction of target genes in fasted mice.
    [Show full text]
  • Repression of Glucocorticoid-Stimulated Angiopoietin-Like 4 Gene Transcription by Insulin
    Repression of glucocorticoid-stimulated angiopoietin-like 4 gene transcription by insulin Taiyi Kuo , * ,† Tzu-Chieh Chen , † Stephanie Yan , † Fritz Foo , † Cecilia Ching , † Allison McQueen , † and Jen-Chywan Wang 1, * ,† Endocrinology Graduate Program* and Department of Nutritional Sciences & Toxicology, † University of California, Berkeley , Berkeley, CA 94720-3104 Abstract Angiopoietin-like 4 (Angptl4) is a glucocorticoid re- into monoacylglycerol and FFAs, which can then be taken Downloaded from ceptor (GR) primary target gene in hepatocytes and adipo- up into the cells. Angptl4 can also induce lipolysis in adi- cytes. It encodes a secreted protein that inhibits extracellular pocytes ( 1–4 ). For adipocytes, the net metabolic effect of LPL and promotes adipocyte lipolysis. In Angptl4 null mice, Angptl4 is to mobilize lipids to plasma. The importance of glucocorticoid-induced adipocyte lipolysis and hepatic ste- Angptl4 in the regulation of lipid homeostasis is supported atosis are compromised. Markedly, insulin suppressed glucocorticoid-induced Angptl4 transcription. To unravel the by a series of physiological studies (2, 5 ). First, injecting www.jlr.org mechanism, we utilized small molecules to inhibit insulin ANGPTL4 recombinant proteins rapidly increases plasma signaling components and found that phosphatidylinositol TG and FFA levels ( 5, 6 ). Mice overexpressing Angptl4 in 3-kinase and Akt were vital for the suppression in H4IIE cells. muscle and adipose tissue have increased plasma TG levels at Univ of Calif Lib Biosciences Natural Res, on April 28, 2014 A forkhead box transcription factor response element ( FRE ) ( 7 ), and adenoviral-mediated overexpression of Angptl4 in was found near the 15 bp Angptl4 glucocorticoid response ele- liver causes hyperlipidemia and hepatic steatosis ( 8 ).
    [Show full text]
  • Treatment Strategy for Dyslipidemia in Cardiovascular Disease Prevention: Focus on Old and New Drugs
    pharmacy Article Treatment Strategy for Dyslipidemia in Cardiovascular Disease Prevention: Focus on Old and New Drugs Donatella Zodda 1,*, Rosario Giammona 2 and Silvia Schifilliti 2 1 Drug Department of Local Health Unit (ASP), Viale Giostra, 98168 Messina, Italy 2 Clinical Pharmacy Fellowship, University of Messina, Viale Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy; [email protected] (R.G.); silvia.schifi[email protected] (S.S.) * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +39-090-3653902 Received: 12 November 2017; Accepted: 11 January 2018; Published: 21 January 2018 Abstract: Prevention and treatment of dyslipidemia should be considered as an integral part of individual cardiovascular prevention interventions, which should be addressed primarily to those at higher risk who benefit most. To date, statins remain the first-choice therapy, as they have been shown to reduce the risk of major vascular events by lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). However, due to adherence to statin therapy or statin resistance, many patients do not reach LDL-C target levels. Ezetimibe, fibrates, and nicotinic acid represent the second-choice drugs to be used in combination with statins if lipid targets cannot be reached. In addition, anti-PCSK9 drugs (evolocumab and alirocumab) provide an effective solution for patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and statin intolerance at very high cardiovascular risk. Recently, studies demonstrated the effects of two novel lipid-lowering agents (lomitapide and mipomersen) for the management of homozygous FH by decreasing LDL-C values and reducing cardiovascular events. However, the costs for these new therapies made the cost–effectiveness debate more complicated. Keywords: lipid lowering therapy; dyslipidemia; statins; fibrate; PCSK9 inhibitors; lomitapide 1.
    [Show full text]
  • NLA Task Force on Statin Safety - 2014 Update
    Journal of Clinical Lipidology (2014) 8, S1–S4 Executive Summary NLA Task Force on Statin Safety - 2014 update Terry A. Jacobson, MD, FNLA, Chair, The NLA Task Force on Statin Safety - 2014 Update* Department of Medicine, Office of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Emory University, 49 Jesse Hill Jr Drive SE, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA KEYWORDS: Statins; Statin drug; Statin muscle; Statin intolerance; Statin brain; Statin liver; Statin diabetes Statins are the most widely prescribed class of medications classified into these risk categories. Although shocking, in the United States and their benefits for lowering low- these numbers do not even account for the hundreds of mil- density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and reducing the lions of patients who qualify for statins because they risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) are well docu- already have ASCVD, diabetes mellitus, or extremely mented.1 Statins have been the cornerstone of pharmaco- high LDL-C levels. Therefore, the potential risks and ben- therapy for the management of high blood cholesterol efits of statin use are a major US and worldwide public levels virtually since their development. The American health concern. Heart Association /American College of Cardiology 2013 In 2006, the National Lipid Association (NLA) guidelines recently expanded the number of individuals convened a Statin Safety Assessment Task Force of experts eligible for statin therapy by recommending it for those who published their findings on specific questions related to with: (1) clinical atherosclerotic
    [Show full text]
  • STATIN-FIBRATE REPORT: Focus on Safety VHA Pharmacy Benefits Management-Strategic Healthcare Group and the Medical Advisory Panel
    Statin-Fibrate Safety Report-Final STATIN-FIBRATE REPORT: Focus on Safety VHA Pharmacy Benefits Management-Strategic Healthcare Group and The Medical Advisory Panel Executive Summary: (Key Questions) Efficacy a. Is there evidence to demonstrate an advantage with regard to reducing coronary health outcomes in patients receiving a combination of statins plus fibrates compared to statins alone (e.g. especially in patients with TG in the 300 range-metabolic syndrome) to justify the risk of the combination? At this time, there is a lack of evidence to support a reduction in coronary health outcomes with the statin-fibrate combination. The LDS study would have helped answer this question but was stopped due to withdrawal of cerivastatin from the market. The ACCORD study will have in excess of 5000 patients with type 2 diabetes on the combination of fenofibrate plus simvastatin vs. simvastatin alone. The primary outcome measures in this trial will include nonfatal myocardial infarction and nonfatal stroke, cardiovascular death and overall mortality. However, data from ACCORD will not be available until 2008 or 2009. b. Which fibrates (e.g. fenofibrate or gemfibrozil) have evidence to support their benefit in reducing coronary heart disease health outcomes when used as monotherapy? To summarize, when evaluated in primary prevention (WHO study), clofibrate was associated with a reduction in the risk for nonfatal MI. However, an excess in total mortality was also observed in the clofibrate group compared to placebo. This increase was attributed to deaths from diseases of the liver, intestines and gallbladder. In secondary prevention (CDP study), clofibrate was not significantly different from placebo with regard to reducing coronary heart disease (CHD) events.
    [Show full text]
  • Borderline Hypercholesterolaemia: When to Introduce Drugs D
    Postgraduate Medical Journal (1989) 65, 543 - 552 Postgrad Med J: first published as 10.1136/pgmj.65.766.543 on 1 August 1989. Downloaded from Difficult Decisions Borderline hypercholesterolaemia: when to introduce drugs D. Bhatnagar and P.N. Durrington University Department ofMedicine, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, UK. Introduction 'Please do not write any more articles about can stimulate a therapeutic reflex response without the cholesterol and coronary disease and the diet and proper diagnostic assessment of each individual drugs which are supposed to influence them. The facts patient. Supposing we limited ourselves to but a single about coronary disease are these: the less ather- therapeutic approach to hyponatraemia: what omatous your ancestors, the harder your water, and disasters would follow! Some knowledge of lipo- the more habitual exercise you take, the less likely you protein metabolism is essential to the clinician con- are to be troubled by it. Do stop bothering about templating the mangement of hypercholesterolaemia. whether your fats are saturated or unsaturated, help yourselves liberally to butter and stop propagating these erroneous legends." Lipoprotein physiology (Figure 1) This remains too frequently the view of medical practitioners in Britain. Sadly it must be one ofthe few The average Briton consumes almost 100 g offat every statements of Richard Asher which does not remain as day and much of this is triglyceride. The products of penetratingly accurate today as it was when first made: fat digestion are absorbed in the small intestine where prescience had on this rare occasion deserted him. We they are synthesized into large triglyceride-rich lipo- still, of course, believe that susceptibility to coronary proteins called chylomicrons, which are secreted into by copyright.
    [Show full text]