1. Regression in carotid plaque lipid content and neovasculature with PCSK9 inhibition: A time course study
- Author
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Norman E. Lepor, Thomas S. Hatsukami, Jie Sun, Niranjan Balu, Chun Yuan, Americo A. Simonini, Daniel S. Hippe, Ilan Kedan, Laurn Contreras, Daniel Isquith, Xue-Qiao Zhao, and Gador Canton
- Subjects
Male ,0301 basic medicine ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Urology ,Lumen (anatomy) ,030204 cardiovascular system & hematology ,03 medical and health sciences ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,0302 clinical medicine ,medicine ,Humans ,Aged ,Alirocumab ,medicine.diagnostic_test ,business.industry ,PCSK9 ,PCSK9 Inhibitors ,Magnetic resonance imaging ,Middle Aged ,medicine.disease ,Lipids ,Plaque, Atherosclerotic ,Extravasation ,Carotid Arteries ,030104 developmental biology ,chemistry ,Low-density lipoprotein ,Kexin ,Female ,Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ,Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine ,business ,Calcification - Abstract
Background and aims Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors reduce cardiovascular events, but their effects on atherosclerotic plaque remain elusive. Using serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we studied changes in carotid plaque lipid content and neovasculature under PCSK9 inhibition with alirocumab. Methods Among patients with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) ≥70 mg/dl but ineligible for high-dose statin therapy, those with lipid core on carotid MRI were identified to receive alirocumab 150 mg every 2 weeks. Follow-up MRI was performed at 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment. Pre- and post-contrast MRI were acquired to measure percent lipid core volume (% lipid core). Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI was acquired to measure the extravasation rate of gadolinium contrast (Ktrans), a marker of plaque neovasculature. Results Of 31 patients enrolled, 27 completed the study (mean age: 69 ± 9; male: 67%). From 9.8% at baseline, % lipid core was progressively reduced to 8.4% at 3 months, 7.5% at 6 months, and 7.2% at 12 months (p = 0.014 for trend), which was accompanied by a progressive increase in % fibrous tissue (p = 0.009) but not % calcification (p = 0.35). Ktrans was not reduced until 12 months (from 0.069 ± 0.019 min−1 to 0.058 ± 0.020 min−1; p = 0.029). Lumen and wall areas did not change significantly during the study period. Conclusions Regression in plaque composition and neovasculature were observed under PCSK9 inhibition on carotid MRI, which provides unique insight into the biological process of plaque stabilization with disease-modifying therapies.
- Published
- 2021
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