Cardiovascular drugs and therapy
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Cardiovasc Drugs Ther · Jun 2016
Randomized Controlled TrialEfficacy and Safety of the PCSK9 Inhibitor Evolocumab in Patients with Mixed Hyperlipidemia.
Evolocumab significantly reduces low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C); we investigated its effects on LDL-C lowering in patients with mixed hyperlipidemia. ⋯ The significant reductions of atherogenic lipids including LDL-C, non-HDL-C, and apolipoprotein B seen with evolocumab are similar in patients with and without mixed hyperlipidemia.
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Cardiovasc Drugs Ther · Jun 2014
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyEfficacy and safety of alirocumab in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia not adequately controlled with current lipid-lowering therapy: design and rationale of the ODYSSEY FH studies.
Individuals with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (heFH) have higher levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and are predisposed to premature cardiovascular disease. Alirocumab is a fully-human, monoclonal antibody targeted to proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 currently in Phase 3 development for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. Described here are three ODYSSEY Phase 3 trials, FH I (NCT01623115), FH II (NCT01709500) and HIGH FH (patients with heFH and LDL-C levels ≥160 mg/dL) (NCT01617655), in which alirocumab is further evaluated in the heFH population. ⋯ The ODYSSEY FH studies are three Phase 3 studies aiming to further evaluate the efficacy and long-term safety of alirocumab as an effective therapeutic option for patients with heFH.
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Cardiovasc Drugs Ther · Dec 2013
Randomized Controlled TrialAspirin dose increase from 75 to 150 mg suppresses red blood cell contribution to suboptimal platelet response to aspirin in patients with CAD.
To verify the hypothesis that erythrocytes play a role in suboptimal blood platelet response to acetylsalicylic acid (ASA, aspirin) in subjects with coronary artery disease (CAD). ⋯ Red blood cell parameters are associated with suboptimal blood platelet response to ASA in patients with CAD. Such a platelet refractoriness to ASA may be effectively overcome by increasing the ASA dose.
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Cardiovasc Drugs Ther · Dec 2013
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyRationale and design of a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled multicenter trial to study efficacy, security, and long term effects of intermittent repeated levosimendan administration in patients with advanced heart failure: LAICA study.
Advanced heart failure (HF) is associated with high morbidity and mortality; it represents a major burden for the health system. Episodes of acute decompensation requiring frequent and prolonged hospitalizations account for most HF-related expenditure. Inotropic drugs are frequently used during hospitalization, but rarely in out-patients. The LAICA clinical trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of monthly levosimendan infusion in patients with advanced HF to reduce the incidence of hospital admissions for acute HF decompensation. ⋯ The LAICA trial results could allow confirmation of the usefulness of intermittent levosimendan infusion in reducing the rate of hospitalization for HF worsening in advanced HF outpatients.
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Cardiovasc Drugs Ther · Feb 2012
Randomized Controlled TrialInhibition of secretory phospholipase A(2) in patients with acute coronary syndromes: rationale and design of the vascular inflammation suppression to treat acute coronary syndrome for 16 weeks (VISTA-16) trial.
The action of secretory phospholipase A(2) (sPLA(2)) on lipoproteins may render them more susceptible to oxidation, thereby promoting vascular inflammation and increasing cardiovascular risk. Patients with acute coronary syndrome face a high risk of early, recurrent cardiovascular events that is associated with biomarkers of inflammation, including sPLA(2). The Vascular Inflammation Suppression to Treat Acute Coronary Syndrome for 16 Weeks (VISTA-16, NCT01130246) tests the hypothesis that varespladib methyl, an inhibitor of several sPLA(2) isoforms with a causal role in atherosclerosis, reduces cardiovascular risk among patients with acute coronary syndromes. ⋯ sPLA(2) inhibition has the potential to exert a favorable effect on the artery wall. The VISTA-16 study will determine whether varespladib methyl has a beneficial impact on cardiovascular events in patients with an acute coronary syndrome.