Alirocumab lowers LDL-C levels in patients with ACS

Long-term treatment with alirocumab with or without lipid-lowering therapy treatment significantly reduced the levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), as shown by the results of a real-world evidence study.

This observational study sought to examine both the efficacy and safety of alirocumab in Chinese patients with ACS.

Alirocumab therapy for 6 months, compared with baseline, correlated with a significant increase in percentage of patients who achieved the control goal of LDL-C <1.0 mmol/L (51.3 percent vs 1.4 percent; p<0.0001) and <1.4 mmol/L (61.5 percent vs 5.5 percent; p<0.0001).

“The percentage of patients achieving LDL-C goals of <1.00 and <1.40 mmol/L were significantly higher than baseline 6 months after adding alirocumab,” the investigators said. 

Seventy-three patients with ACS treated with alirocumab over 6 months were enrolled in this single-centre, retrospective study. Participants were followed up at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months, with the achieved rate of LDL-C levels after treatment with alirocumab at 6 months serving as the main outcome measure.

“Although guidelines recommend in-hospital initiation of high-intensity statin therapy in patients with ACS, LDL-C target levels are frequently not attained,” the investigators said. “Alirocumab has been demonstrated to be a fast-acting and efficacious agent for lowering LDL-C in controlled trials.”