Effects of Lipid Lowering Therapy Optimization by PCSK9 Inhibitors on Circulating CD34+ Cells and Pulse Wave Velocity in Familial Hypercholesterolemia Subjects without Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease: Real-World Data from Two Lipid Units
Roberto Scicali,
Giuseppe Mandraffino,
Michele Scuruchi,
Alberto Lo Gullo,
Antonino Di Pino,
Viviana Ferrara,
Carmela Morace,
Caterina Oriana Aragona,
Giovanni Squadrito,
Francesco Purrello,
Salvatore Piro
Affiliations
Roberto Scicali
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95100 Catania, Italy
Giuseppe Mandraffino
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, University Hospital G. Martino, Lipid Center, 98100 Messina, Italy
Michele Scuruchi
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, University Hospital G. Martino, Lipid Center, 98100 Messina, Italy
Alberto Lo Gullo
Unit of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, ARNAS Garibaldi Hospital, 95100 Catania, Italy
Antonino Di Pino
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95100 Catania, Italy
Viviana Ferrara
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95100 Catania, Italy
Carmela Morace
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, University Hospital G. Martino, Lipid Center, 98100 Messina, Italy
Caterina Oriana Aragona
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, University Hospital G. Martino, Lipid Center, 98100 Messina, Italy
Giovanni Squadrito
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, University Hospital G. Martino, Lipid Center, 98100 Messina, Italy
Francesco Purrello
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95100 Catania, Italy
Salvatore Piro
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95100 Catania, Italy
Background: Circulating CD34+ progenitor cells (CD34+CPCs) are characterized by pronounced tissue regeneration activity. Dyslipidemic subjects seemed to have reduced CD34+CPCs, and statin therapy appeared to restore their levels. We aimed to evaluate the effects of PCSK9 inhibitors (PCSK9-i) on CD34+CPCs and pulse wave velocity (PWV) in a cohort of heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) subjects. Methods: We determined CD34+ cell count and its change after PCSK9-i in 30 selected HeFH subjects and 30 healthy controls. Lipid profile and PWV were evaluated at baseline (T0), 6 months after intensive lipid lowering strategy (statin plus ezetimibe, T1), and after 6 months of optimized therapy with PCSK9-i (T2); CD34+ cell count was reported at T1 and T2. Results: At T1, the median value of CD34+ cells was not significantly different between HeFH subjects and controls, and the same result was obtained at T2. PWV was significantly reduced at T1 (ΔPWV − 14.8%, p p p p p p p < 0.001). Conclusion: PCSK9-i exhibited favorable effects on CD34 + CPCs as was on PWV values in a cohort of FH subjects. Our preliminary findings suggest a possible positive role of this novel lipid-lowering strategy on vascular homeostasis.
