Elevated MI risk in patients with HeFH with gene variants in both LDLR and PCSK9

Introduction and methods

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is caused by genetic variants in the LDLR, PCSK9, and APOB genes, and leads to elevated LDL-c levels, tendon or skin xanthomas, and an increased risk for ASCVD [1-4]. Genetic analyses have identified patients with variants in both LDLR and PCSK9 genes [5-6]. This genotype could potentially result in higher elevated LDL-c levels, which would lead to an additionally higher risk for ASCVD in these patients and is therefore considered a severe form of FH by the International Atherosclerosis Society Severe Familial Hypercholesterolemia Panel [3]. However, the demographics and clinical outcomes in these patients are unknown. This study investigated the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and CV outcomes of patients with both LDLR and PCSK9 genes variants.

This retrospective study analyzed unrelated patients with clinically diagnosed heterozygous FH (HeFH) who underwent genetic testing to identify variants in the LDLR and/or PCSK9 gene(s) at the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center in Osaka, Japan, between 2005 and 2016. HeFH was clinically defined as patients having ≥2 of the following features: LDL-c ≥180 mg/dL, tendon/skin xanthoma, and a family history of FH or premature CAD within second degree relatives. In total, 232 unrelated patients with FH and a gene variant in LDLR gene (n=183), PCSK9 gene (n=35), or both genes (n=14) were included in the study. The primary endpoint was nonfatal MI. Death from any cardiac cause was not observed in the study subjects during the observational period and was therefore not included in the primary outcome. The mean observational period was 53±17 years.

Main results

• The prevalence rates of patients with LDLR/PCSK9, LDLR, and PCSK9 gene variants in the studied cohort was 6%, 80%, and 14 %, respectively.

• Patients with LDLR/PCSK9 gene variants had the highest LDL-c levels (316±75 mg/dL) compared to patients with LDLR gene variants (273±72 mg/dL, P=0.04) and those with PCSK9 gene variants (219±58 mg/dL, P<0.001).

• High-intensity statins and PCSK9 inhibitors were more often used in patients with LDLR/PCSK9 gene variants compared to patients with only an LDLR variant (high-intensity statin P=0.03, PCSK9i P<0.001). As a result, a larger proportion of patients with the LDLR/PCSK9 gene variants attained the <100 mg/dL LDL-c goal (P=0.002) compared to patients with a LDLR variant.

• The primary outcome nonfatal MI was more often observed in patients with LDLR/PCSK9 gene variants compared to those with LDLR variants (43% vs. 16%, exact log-rank P=0.02).

• Multivariate regression analysis which included sex, genotype, history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and smoking as covariates showed that patients with LDLR/PCSK9 gene variants had higher incidence of nonfatal MI compared to patients with LDLR variants (HR 4.26, 95% CI: 1.66-11.0, P=0.003).

• Additional analyses adjusted for the duration from birth to achieving LDL-c goal and duration of optimal LDL-c control with therapy. These analyses showed that the incidence of nonfatal MI was still higher in patients with LDLR/PCSK9 variants than in those with LDLR variants (HR 6.08, 95% CI: 2.29-16.1, P<0.001).

• Subgroup analyses according to sex and genotype showed that the primary outcome occurred more frequently in men than woman (28% vs. 7%, P=0.006). Men with both LDLR/PCSK9 gene variants had a higher incidence of nonfatal MI than men with a LDLR variant (86% vs. 24%, P<0.001). There was no significant difference in the incidence of nonfatal MI in women with both LDLR/PCSK9 gene variants vs. women with a LDLR variant.

Conclusion

References

Find this article online at J Am Heart Assoc.