PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Lederman, Lynne
ED  - Thomas, Gregory S.
TI  - Monoclonal Antibody to PCSK9 Offers New Approach to Treating Hypercholesterolemia
DP  - 2013 Sep 01
TA  - MD Conference Express
PG  - 16--17
VI  - 13
IP  - 7
4099  - http://mdc.sagepub.com/content/13/7/16.short
4100  - http://mdc.sagepub.com/content/13/7/16.full
AB  - Hypercholesterolemia, particularly an increased level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is associated with elevated cardiovascular (CV) risk. Individuals with genetic lifelong lower levels of LDL-C are associated with a reduced risk of CV events. In addition, the reduction in coronary heart disease (CHD) risk is proportional to the decrease in LDL-C over the time period of LDL-C reduction. Statins are often used to therapeutically lower LDL-C levels, but individuals with lifelong lower LDL-C levels due to genetic variants have three times the protection from CHD as do those who begin statin therapy later in life.