PCSK9 INHIBITORS

Course overview

FAMILIAL HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA IS CHARACTERIZED BY EXTREMELY HIGH LEVELS OF TOTAL AND LDL-CHOLESTEROL, PREMATURE VASCULAR DISEASE, AND TENDON XANTHOMAS. IN THE VAST MAJORITY OF CASES, THIS IS DUE TO A GENETIC MUTATION OF THE LDL RECEPTOR, RARELY MUTATIONS OF THE APOPROTEIN B100 OR PCSK9 GENES. AT PRESENT, THERE ARE TWO PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS AVAILABLE IN THE UNITED STATES THAT REDUCE PCSK9 ACTIVITY: ALIROCUMAB AND EVOLOCUMAB, WHICH REDUCE PCSK9 ACTIVITY, LOWERING LDL-CHOLESTEROL LEVELS, AND DECREASE THE RISK OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE. THIS ACTIVITY OUTLINES THE INDICATIONS, MECHANISM OF ACTION, ADMINISTRATION METHODS, SIGNIFICANT ADVERSE EFFECTS, CONTRAINDICATIONS, MONITORING, AND TOXICITY OF PCSK9 INHIBITORS SO PROVIDERS CAN DIRECT PATIENT THERAPY TO OPTIMAL OUTCOMES IN SERUM LIPID MANAGEMENT WITH THESE AGENTS AND OBTAIN IMPROVED CARDIOVASCULAR OUTCOMES.