title: Cardiovascular risk reduction: the future of cholesterol lowering drugs.
abstract: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in developed and developing countries. LDL lowering therapies have a major role in reduction of cardiovascular events. Statins have been the mainstay of LDL lowering therapies with 20-60% reductions in LDL cholesterol. Monoclonal antibodies to proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9) represent a new therapeutic option, reducing LDL cholesterol by an additional 40-70% on top of other lipid lowering therapies. This is likely to produce significant cardiovascular risk reduction, although clinical cardiovascular outcomes trials are still in progress. HDL cholesterol raising and triglyceride lowering therapies have not yet shown unequivocal benefits for cardiovascular risk reduction. New therapies in these areas are in development, and their future promise remains to be demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Lipid Research, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, Campus Box 8127, 660 South Euclid, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bou Malham
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Lipid Research, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, Campus Box 8127, 660 South Euclid, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA. Electronic address: agoldber@dom.wustl.edu.
authors.forename: Anne Carol
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Goldberg
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D000071449:Proprotein Convertase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D002784:Cholesterol; D000071449:Proprotein Convertase 9