Dyslipidemia - Cardiovascular Flashcards
What are different types of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD)?
- myocardial infarction
- stroke/transient ischemic attacks
- angina
- peripheral arterial disease
What does total cholesterol include?
- low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
- high-density lipoprotein (HDL)
- very-low density lipoprotein (VLDL)
Which type of lipoprotein decreases an individual’s ASCVD risk?
high-density lipoprotein (LDL)
What is the role of HDL?
takes cholesterol from the blood and delivers it to the liver for removal from the body
What types of lipoproteins contribute to atherosclerosis?
Non-HDL lipoproteins such as:
- LDL
- intermediate-density lipoproteins (IDL)
- VLDL
- chylomicron remnants and lipoprotein (a genetic variant of LDL)
What level of triglycerides can cause acute pancreatitis?
TG >500 mg/dL
What is dyslipidemia?
abnormal lipoprotein levels
What is Friedwald’s equation?
how to calculate LDL
LDL = TC - HDL - (TG/5)
*equation cannot be used if TG >400 mg/dL
What key drugs can increase LDL and TG levels?
- protease inhibitors
- diuretics
- atypical antipsychotics
- immunosuppressants (tacrolimus, cyclosporine)
- efavirenz
- steroids
- retinoids
What key drugs increase LDL only?
- fish oils
- anabolic steroids
- fibrates
- progestins
- SGLT2 inhibitors
except VASCEPA
What key drug increase TG levels only?
- IV lipid emulsions
- propofol
- bile acid sequestrates
- estrogen
- tamoxifen
- clevidipine
- beta blockers
Conditions that can raise LDL and/or TG levels
- obesity
- poor diet
- hypothyroidism
- alcoholism
- smoking
- diabetes
- renal/liver disease
- nephrotic syndrome
What are the drugs of choice for treating high non-HDL and LDL?
- statins
- ezetimibe
- PCKS9 inhibitors
What cholesterol-lowering drugs can cause liver damage and when should they not be used?
- fibrates
- niacin
- potentially statins
- ezetimibe
*SHOULD NOT BE USED IF AST OR ALT IS >3 TIMES THE UPPER LIMIT OF NORMAL
What is the MOA of statins?
Inhibits HMG-CoA reductase to prevent the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonate –> this is the rate limiting step in cholesterol synthesis
High-dosed statins
- atorvastatin 40-80 mg
2. rosuvastatin 20-40 mg
Moderate-dosed statins
- atorvastatin 10-20 mg
- rosuvastatin 5-10 mg
- simvastatin 20-40 mg
- pravastatin 40-80 mg
- lovastatin 40 mg
- fluvastatin 40 mg BID or 80 mg
- pitavastatin 2-4 mg
Low-dosed statin
- simvastatin 10 mg
- pravastatin 10-20 mg
- lovastatin 20 mg
- fluvastatin 20-40 mg
- pitavastatin 1 mg
Statin equivalent doses
Pharmacists Rock At Saving Lives and Preventing Fatty-Deposits
Pitavastatin 2 mg Rosuvastatin 5 mg Atorvastatin 10 mg Simvastatin 20 mg Lovastatin 40 mg Pravastatin 40 mg Fluvastatin 80 mg
How do you change from a moderate-dosed statin to a high-dosed statin?
increase lower dose by multiplying by 4
What is the most common adverse effect of statins, how do they present to the body, and when do they usually occur?
muscle damage and within 6 weeks of starting tx
- myalgias: muscle soreness and tenderness
- myopathy: muscle weakness and CPK elevations
- myositis: muscle inflammation
- rhabdomyolysis: muscle symptoms with very high CPK and muscle protein in the urine (myoglobinuria), which can lead to acute renal failure
muscle damage is symmetrical on both sides of the body
How to manage mayalgias caused by statins?
do not use simvastatin 80 mg/day
do not use gemfibrozil plus statin
Contraindications to statins
- do not use in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- do not use strong CYP3A4 inhibitors with simvastatin and lovastatin
- do not use with liver disease
- do not use cyclosporine with pitavastatin
Warnings to statins
- muscle damage –> higher risk with higher dose, advanced age, niacin, CYP3A4 inhibitors, uncontrolled hypothyroidism, renal impairment
- diabetes: increase in A1C –> make sure the benefits outweigh the risks
- hepatotoxicity
Warnings to rosuvastatin
- proteinuria
2. hematuria
Warnings to atorvastatin
- hemorrhagic stroke (if recent stroke or TIAs)
Side effects of statins
GENERALLY WELL-TOLERATED
1. myalgia/myopathy
How to monitor statins?
- lipid panel 4-12 weeks (1-3 months) after starting treatment and then every 3-12 months annually
- LFTs
If patients have symptoms to statins, what should you monitor?
- myalgia/myopathy: check creatine phosphokinase levels (CPK)
- little to no urine: check SCr/BUN for acute renal failure due to rhabdomyolysis
- abdominal pain/jaundice: check LFTs possibly for hepatotoxicity
Which statins can you take at anytime of the day?
- Rosuvastatin
- Atorvastatin
- Pitavastatin
- Fluvastatin ER
- Pravastatin
Which statin must be taken on an empty stomach?
Simvastatin
What statins do you start with if CrCl <30 mL/min?
START WITH LOW DOSES OF:
- lovastatin
- simvastatin
- rosuvastatin
What statin do you start with if eGFR <60 mL/min?
start with low dose of pitavastatin
When should normal Fluvastatin (Lescol) be taken?
in the evening
When should lovastatin IR be taken?
with the evening meal
When should lovastatin (Altoprev) be taken?
at bedtime
Which statins have less drug interactions compared to other statins?
- rosuvastatin
2. pravastatin
Significant DDIs with statins?
G-PACMAN
- grapefruit
- protease inhibitors
- azole antifungals
- cyclosporine, cobicistat
- macrolids
- amiodarone
- non-DHP calcium channel blockers
What non-statin is preferred as an add-on treatment if statins are at its maximum tolerated dose?
Ezetimibe
b/c PCSK9 inhibitors are more expensive
What is the MOA of ezetimibe?
to inhibit the absorption of cholesterol in the small intestines
Contraindications to ezetimibe?
- do not use in pregnancy and breastfeeding
- do not use strong CYP3A4 inhibitors
- do not use with liver disease
Warnings for ezetimibe?
- avoid use in moderate-or-severe hepatic impairment
2. skeletal muscle effects –> risk increased when combined with a statin
Side effects of ezetimibe?
- myalgia
- diarrhea
- upper respiratory tract infections
- arthralgia
- pain in extremities
- sinusitis
Drug interactions with ezetimibe?
- used in combination with cyclosporine –> want to monitor levels of cyclosporine b/c there is an increase in the concentration of both
- concurrent use with bile acid sequestrants will decrease ezetimibe –> separate the drugs for 2 hours before or 4 hours after bile acid sequestrants
- increase risk of cholelithiasis when used concurrently with fenofibrate and gemfibrozil –> do not use with gemfibrozil
PCSK9 inhibitors?
- alirocumab
2. evolocumab
How are PCSK9 inhibitors administered?
subcutaneously