Evolocumab Plus Ezetimibe in High Risk Haemodialized Statin Intolerant Patients

Evolocumab is a monoclonal antibody that inhibits proprotein convertase subtilisin-kexin type 9 (PCSK9) and lowers low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, reducing in turn the risk of cardiovascular events. Whether evolcumab is effective in haemodialized patients is uncertain. The investigators will conduct a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to assess the feasibility, safety, and LDL-C-lowering efficacy of evolocumab in high cardiovascular risk haemodialized statin intolerant patients with hypercholesterolemia. Patients will be randomly assigned to receive evolocumab (140 mg subcutaneous every 2 weeks + ezetimibe 10 mg per os daily) or matching placebo (subcutaneous every 2 weeks + ezetimibe 10 mg per os daily) for 24 weeks. The primary efficacy end point will be the reduction in LDL-C ≥ 20 mg/dL from baseline. The key secondary efficacy end points will be: the reduction of LDL-C from baseline at 4, 6 and 12 weeks; the reduction of HDL-C, non-HDL cholesterol and triglycerides from baseline at 24 weeks; the number of patients achieving LDL-C \<70 mg/dL. Every adverse event (serious and non-serious) correlated to drug infusion will be recorded (safety end-point).


Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria (all of them must be present):

* high cardiovascular risk defined as patients with: Documented cardiovascular disease (CVD), clinical or unequivocal on imaging. Documented clinical CVD includes previous acute myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization and other arterial revascularization procedures, stroke and TIA, aortic aneurysm and PAD. Unequivocally documented CVD on imaging includes plaque on coronary angiography or carotid ultrasound; DM with target organ damage or with a major risk factor such as smoking or marked hypercholesterolaemia or marked hypertension.
* History of statin intolerance, demonstrated by both:

trial of ≥2 statins with intolerance of any dose or to increase statin dose above the total maximum doses because of intolerable: Myopathy or myalgia (muscle pain, ache, or weakness without CK elevation), or Myositis (muscle symptoms with increased CK levels), or Rhabdomyolysis (muscle symptoms with marked CK elevation) and Resolution or improvement of symptoms when the statin dose was decreased or discontinued

* patients with LDL-C ≥70 mg/dL
* end-stage renal disease on chronic hemodialysis

Exclusion Criteria:

* LDL-C \<70 mg/dL
* NYHA class III-IV heart failure or last known LVEF \<30%
* Uncontrolled serious cardiac arrhythmia, deﬁned as recurrent and highly symptomatic VT, AF with rapid ventricular response, or SVT that are not controlled by medications, within 3 months prior to randomization Planned cardiac surgery or revascularization DM, including: Type 1 DMType 2 DM that is poorly controlled (HbA1c\>8.5%) or newly diagnosed within 6 months before randomization; Laboratory evidence of DM during screening (fasting serum glucose ≥126 mg/dL \[7.0 mmol/L\] or HbA1c≥6.5%) without prior DM diagnosis
* Uncontrolled hypertension, deﬁned as sitting SBP \>160mmHg or DBP\>100 mm Hg
* Use during the 6 months before LDL-C screening of red yeast rice, niacin \>200 mg/d, prescription lipid-regulating drugs (eg, ﬁbrates or derivatives) other than statins, ezetimibe, bile-acid sequestrants, stanols, or stanol esters
* Use during the 12 months before LDL-C screening of a CETP inhibitor such as anacetrapib, dalcetrapib, or evacetrapib
* Use during the 3 months before LDL-C screening of systemic cyclosporine, systemic steroids excluding HRT, vitamin A derivatives (excluding vitamin Ain a multivitamin), or retinol derivatives for the treatment of dermatologic conditions
* Laboratory values at screening TSH \< LLN or \>1.5 × ULN; CK \>3 × ULN; AST or ALT \>2 × ULN
* Known concurrent illness within 3 months
* Infection
* Major hematologic, renal, metabolic, GI, or endocrine dysfunction in the judgment of the investigator
* DVT or PE
* Pregnancy, breastfeeding, or inadequate birth control in premenopausal female subjects
* Previous treatment with evolocumab or any other anti-PCSK9 therapy
* Inability to provide informed consent or to attend follow-up visits
* Unreliability as a study participant based on judgment of investigator's knowledge of the subject (eg, alcohol or other drug abuse, inability or unwillingness to adhere to the protocol, psychosis)
* Current enrollment in another investigational device or drug study or \<30 d since ending another investigational device or drug study