Coronary allograft vasculopathy (CAV) is diffusely accelerated atherosclerosis of a transplanted heart. Evolocumab (Repatha) is an FDA-approved drug for lowering low density lipoprotein (LDL) in patients who have not received a heart transplant. This drug works as a PCSK9-inhibitor. The primary objective of this study is to measure the impact of PCSK9-inhibitors on serum LDL in heart transplant patients with CAV after 12 weeks compared to baseline.
Heart transplant remains the treatment of choice for patients with advanced heart failure. Coronary allograft vasculopathy (CAV) is diffusely accelerated atherosclerosis of the donor heart, and limits long term survival after transplant. The pathophysiology of CAV is complex and involves smooth muscle proliferation, inflammatory infiltrates, and lipid deposition. To date, only statin therapy has reduced CAV-related mortality. PCSK9 inhibitors are a new lipid lowering therapy shown to reduce cardiovascular clinical events in patients with coronary artery disease. We hypothesize that PCSK9 inhibition via evolocumab will significantly lower low density lipoprotein (LDL) and be well-tolerated in transplant patients with CAV. This phase II, open label, single center trial with enroll up to 40 heart transplant patients with CAV for treatment with evolocumab for one year. The primary outcome will be percent change in LDL at 12 weeks. Secondary outcomes will include change in CAV progression, impact of evolocumab on immunosuppression regimens and transplant rejection, and change in serum lipids after 52 weeks. Results of this study are intended to provide safety data in heart transplant patients with CAV and assess secondary outcomes including CAV progression and impact on immunosuppression and transplant rejection.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
26
Enrolled study participants will be treated with evolocumab (Repatha) 140 mg injected subcutaneously every 2 weeks for 52 weeks. All study participants will receive instruction on correct self-administration by research pharmacists. Study drug will be mailed to patients on a monthly basis for self-administration by patients. The evolocumab dose (140 mg every 2 weeks) will remain constant for the duration of the study. Side effects will be assessed on a quarterly basis. Serious adverse events considered related to treatment, death, and pregnancy will all result in immediate discontinuation of the study drug.
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Percent Change in Serum LDL (mg/dL) After 12 Weeks of Evolocumab
The primary outcome measure for this study was percent change in LDL from baseline after 12 weeks of evolocumab therapy. Serum LDL was measured at baseline and after 12 weeks of evolocumab therapy. This primary endpoint was used in prior phase 2 trials investigating evolocumab in other patient populations. Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed rank test was used for statistical assessment.
Time frame: 12 weeks
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