Treatment with a PCSK9 inhibitor is well tolerated and improves cardiovascular outcomes .
Although no overall benefit was noted in all-cause or cardiovascular mortality , such benefit may be achievable in patients with higher baseline low-density lipoprotein cholesterol
BACKGROUND We sought to examine the efficacy and safety of 2 PCSK9 ( proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 ) inhibitors : alirocumab and evolocumab .
Effects of lovastatin on cognitive function and psychological well-being.
PURPOSE Animal research and cross-sectional studies suggest that serum lipid concentrations may influence cognitive function , mood , and behavior , but few clinical trials have studied these effects . SUBJECTS AND METHODS In this double-blind investigation , 209 generally healthy adults with a serum low-density-lipoprotein ( LDL ) cholesterol level of 160 mg/dL or higher were r and omly assigned to 6-month treatment with lovastatin ( 20 mg ) or placebo . Assessment s of neuropsychological performance , depression , hostility , and quality of life were conducted at baseline and at the end of the treatment period . Summary effect sizes were estimated as z scores on a st and ard deviation ( SD ) scale . RESULTS Placebo-treated subjects improved between baseline and posttreatment periods on neuropsychological tests in all five performance domains , consistent with the effects of practice on test performance ( all P < 0.04 ) , whereas those treated with lovastatin improved only on tests of memory recall ( P = 0.03 ) . Comparisons of the changes in performance between placebo- and lovastatin-treated subjects revealed small , but statistically significant , differences for tests of attention ( z score = 0.18 ; 95 % confidence interval ( CI ) , 0.06 to 0.31 ; P = 0.005 ) and psychomotor speed ( z score = 0.17 ; 95 % CI , 0.05 to 0.28 ; P = 0 . 004 ) that were consistent with greater improvement in the placebo group . Psychological well-being , as measured several ways , was not affected by lovastatin . CONCLUSION Treatment of hypercholesterolemia with lovastatin did not cause psychological distress or substantially alter cognitive function . Treatment did result in small performance decrements on neuropsychological tests of attention and psychomotor speed , the clinical importance of which is uncertain
Treatment with a PCSK9 inhibitor is well tolerated and improves cardiovascular outcomes .
Although no overall benefit was noted in all-cause or cardiovascular mortality , such benefit may be achievable in patients with higher baseline low-density lipoprotein cholesterol
BACKGROUND We sought to examine the efficacy and safety of 2 PCSK9 ( proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 ) inhibitors : alirocumab and evolocumab .