The Rheumatologist
COVID-19 NewsACR Convergence
  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed
  • Home
  • Conditions
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • SLE (Lupus)
    • Crystal Arthritis
      • Gout Resource Center
    • Spondyloarthritis
    • Osteoarthritis
    • Soft Tissue Pain
    • Scleroderma
    • Vasculitis
    • Systemic Inflammatory Syndromes
    • Guidelines
  • Resource Centers
    • Axial Spondyloarthritis Resource Center
    • Gout Resource Center
    • Psoriatic Arthritis Resource Center
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis Resource Center
    • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Resource Center
  • Drug Updates
    • Biologics & Biosimilars
    • DMARDs & Immunosuppressives
    • Topical Drugs
    • Analgesics
    • Safety
    • Pharma Co. News
  • Professional Topics
    • Ethics
    • Legal
    • Legislation & Advocacy
    • Career Development
      • Certification
      • Education & Training
    • Awards
    • Profiles
    • President’s Perspective
    • Rheuminations
    • Interprofessional Perspective
  • Practice Management
    • Billing/Coding
    • Quality Assurance/Improvement
    • Workforce
    • Facility
    • Patient Perspective
    • Electronic Health Records
    • Apps
    • Information Technology
    • From the College
    • Multimedia
      • Audio
      • Video
  • Resources
    • Issue Archives
    • ACR Convergence
      • Gout Resource Center
      • Axial Spondyloarthritis Resource Center
      • Psoriatic Arthritis
      • Abstracts
      • Meeting Reports
      • ACR Convergence Home
    • American College of Rheumatology
    • ACR ExamRheum
    • Research Reviews
    • ACR Journals
      • Arthritis & Rheumatology
      • Arthritis Care & Research
      • ACR Open Rheumatology
    • Rheumatology Image Library
    • Treatment Guidelines
    • Rheumatology Research Foundation
    • Events
  • About Us
    • Mission/Vision
    • Meet the Authors
    • Meet the Editors
    • Contribute to The Rheumatologist
    • Subscription
    • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Search
You are here: Home / Articles / Cardiovascular Risks & Insights from ACR Convergence 2021

Cardiovascular Risks & Insights from ACR Convergence 2021

December 9, 2021 • By Thomas R. Collins

  • Tweet
  • Email
Print-Friendly Version / Save PDF

ACR CONVERGNCE 2021—Controlling inflammation—in addition to lowering cholesterol levels and other strategies—is an increasingly recognized component of managing cardiovascular (CV) risk. Also, targeting changes to the function and structure of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in the setting of inflammation may improve CV outcomes for people with rheumatic disease. Speakers at ACR Convergence 2021 offered these insights and more in a session that explored how to manage risk and outcomes related to cardiovascular disease.

You Might Also Like
  • Cholesterol Levels in Patients with RA Starting Methotrexate
  • Patients with RA Who Respond to Treatment Experience Increased Cholesterol
  • Research on SLE, pJIA & More Highlighted in 2nd ACR Convergence 2021 Plenary Session
Also By This Author
  • Learn to Lead: Tips for Diagnosing & Resolving Conflict

Targeting LDL

Dr. Jorge Plutzky

Jorge Plutzky, MD, director of preventive cardiology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, and associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, offered a cardiologist’s perspective during the presentation. When it comes to low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels, the field has gone from “lower is better” to “lowest is best,” according to Dr. Plutzky, especially with regard to patients reaching a certain level of CV risk.

ad goes here:advert-1
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

“Cardiologists’ broad view is that this is an incredibly common problem, that patients go through a very long preclinical phase before CV complications of atherosclerosis are manifest[ed], and that provides an opportunity to intervene during those early phases,” he said. “Many aspects of cardiovascular risk are modifiable and that represents a chance to avoid some chronic sequelae and even some particularly adverse outcomes, like CV death.”

Efforts to get LDL lower and lower are seen in recent therapy development beyond statins. Example: Inclisiran—approved in Europe and under review in the U.S.—uses small interference RNA to target production of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), a protein that degrades LDL receptors and leads to higher LDL levels. Alirocumab and evolucumab, which also target PCSK9, have shown positive effects in clinical trials when they are added to statin therapy.1,2

ad goes here:advert-2
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

In another study, a specific type of omega-3 fatty acid, icosapent ethyl, was found to have a “striking benefit” when added to statin therapy in patients with high CV risk.3 Questions have been raised about the placebo used in the study, but Dr. Plutzky noted the 25% risk reduction suggests the benefit is likely real.

Bempedoic acid, alone or with ezetimibe, reduces LDL, as well as C-reactive protein levels, raising “an intriguing question” for rheumatologists.4 “Is there an anti-inflammatory effect here and may that contribute to benefits in the clinical trial? We’ll have to wait and see,” said Dr. Plutzky. Results from a phase 3 study are expected in spring 2022.

Canakinumab, an antibody to interleukin (IL) 1b, produced reductions in inflammation and CV events, but no change in LDL.5 “One can point to this as a proof of concept that inflammation matters. Whether this is a therapy for cardiovascular disease isn’t clear, but it highlights important issues,” Dr. Plutzky said.

ad goes here:advert-3
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

Pages: 1 2 3 | Single Page

Filed Under: ACR Convergence, Conditions, Meeting Reports Tagged With: ACR Convergence 2021

You Might Also Like:
  • Cholesterol Levels in Patients with RA Starting Methotrexate
  • Patients with RA Who Respond to Treatment Experience Increased Cholesterol
  • Research on SLE, pJIA & More Highlighted in 2nd ACR Convergence 2021 Plenary Session
  • 10 Clinical Insights & Rheumatology Pearls Presented at ACR Convergence 2021

Simple Tasks

Learn more about the ACR’s public awareness campaign and how you can get involved. Help increase visibility of rheumatic diseases and decrease the number of people left untreated.

Visit the Simple Tasks site »

ACR Convergence

Don’t miss rheumatology’s premier scientific meeting for anyone involved in research or the delivery of rheumatologic care or services.

Visit the ACR Convergence site »

American College of Rheumatology

Visit the official website for the American College of Rheumatology.

Visit the ACR »

The Rheumatologist newsmagazine reports on issues and trends in the management and treatment of rheumatic diseases. The Rheumatologist reaches 11,500 rheumatologists, internists, orthopedic surgeons, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who practice, research, or teach in the field of rheumatology.

About Us / Contact Us / Advertise / Privacy Policy / Terms of Use / Cookie Preferences

  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed

Copyright © 2006–2023 American College of Rheumatology. All rights reserved.

ISSN 1931-3268 (print)
ISSN 1931-3209 (online)