Prospective evaluation of lipid management following acute coronary syndrome in non-Western countries

Background: Half the global burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is concentrated in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. Hypothesis: Suboptimal control of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) may play a large role in the burden of CVD in APAC and non-Western countries. Methods: The Acute Coronary Syndrome Management (ACOSYM) registry is a multinational, multicenter, prospective observational registry designed to evaluate LDL-C control in patients within 6 months after hospitalization following an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) event across nine countries. Results: Overall, 1581 patients were enrolled, of whom 1567 patients met the eligibility criteria; 80.3% of the eligible patients were men, 46.1% had ST-elevation myocardial infarction, and 39.5% had non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Most (1245; 79.5%) patients were discharged on a high-intensity statin. During the followup, only 992 (63.3%) patients had at least one LDL-C measurement; of these, 52.9% had persistently elevated LDL-C (>70 mg/dl). The patients not discharged on a highdose statin were more likely (OR 3.2; 95% CI 2.1–4.8) to have an LDL-C above the 70 mg/dl LDL-C target compared with those who were discharged on a high-dose statin. Conclusion: Our real-world registry found that a third or more of post-ACS patients did not have a repeat LDL-C follow-up measurement. In those with an LDL-C followup measurement, more than half (52.9%) were not achieving a <70 mg/dl LDL-C goal, despite a greater uptake of high-intensity statin therapy than has been observed in recent evidence. This demonstrates the opportunity to improve post-ACS lipid management in global community practice

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol goal achievement in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia in countries outside Western Europe: the International ChoLesterol management Practice Study

Santos, Raul D./0000-0002-9860-6582; Al-Rasadi, Khalid/0000-0003-0460-1236WOS: 000488415700012PubMed: 31208705BACKGROUND: the cross-sectional observational International ChoLesterol management Practice Study study assessed achievement of European Society of Cardiology/European Atherosclerosis Society low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) targets in patients outside Western Europe. OBJECTIVE: the aim of the study was to assess LDL-C goal achievement in International ChoLesterol management Practice Study participants with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). METHODS: A total of 334 patients (aged >= 18 years) with definite or probable FH (Dutch Lipid Clinic Network score >= 6; 43.1% genetically confirmed) who had been receiving stable lipid modifying therapy (LMT) for >= 3 months were enrolled. RESULTS: the mean standard deviation age of the patients was 58.5 +/- 13.1 years, 49.1% were male, and 48.2% had coronary artery disease. Most were receiving statin (similar to 99%). of these, 57.6% were on high-intensity statin therapy, 49.1% on the highest dose available, and 13.0% used a statin together with a cholesterol absorption inhibitor (CAI). Mean +/- standard deviation LDL-C level was 5.6 +/- 3.0 mmol/L before LMT and 3.3 +/- 2.0 mmol/L at enrollment. Overall, 32.0% of patients achieved their LDL-C target. Target achievement rates were 36.6% for patients with coronary artery disease, and 27.5% for those without, and 27.9%, 28.0%, and 37.5% for patients treated with a statin plus CAI, highest-dose statin (no CAI), and lower-dose statin (no CAI), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: LDL-C target achievement rates were low in patients with FH, even in those receiving intensive LMT. Factors that are likely to have contributed to the low LDL-C target achievement rates include high baseline LDL-C, inadequate statin dosages, and low use of CAI. Many patients would have been eligible for proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitor therapy. (C) 2019 National Lipid Association. Published by Elsevier Inc.Sanofi, FranceSanofi-AventisThis work was supported by Sanofi, France

Plasticity of natural killer cells in pregnant patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 and their neonates during childbirth

International audienceThe COVID-19 pandemic has occurred due to infection caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which impacts gestation and pregnancy. In SARS-CoV-2 infection, only very rare cases of vertical transmission have been reported, suggesting that fetal immune imprinting due to a maternal infection is probably a result of changes in maternal immunity. Natural killer (NK) cells are the leading maternal immune cells that act as a natural defense system to fight infections. They also play a pivotal role in the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. While peripheral NK cells display specific features in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 in the general population, information remains elusive in pregnant mothers and neonates. In the present study, we analyzed the characteristics of NK cells isolated from both neonatal umbilical cord blood and maternal peripheral blood close to the time of delivery. Phenotype and functions were compared in 18 healthy pregnant women and 34 COVID-19 patients during pregnancy within an ongoing infection (PCR + ; N = 15) or after recovery (IgG + PCR − ; N = 19). The frequency of NK cells from infected women and their neonates was correlated with the production of inflammatory cytokines in the serum. The expression of NKG2A and NKp30, as well as degranulation of NK cells in pregnant women with ongoing infection, were both negatively correlated to estradiol level. Furthermore, NK cells from the neonates born to infected women were significantly decreased and also correlated to estradiol level. This study highlights the relationship between NK cells, inflammation, and estradiol in patients with ongoing infection, providing new insights into the impact of maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection on the neonate