Specific Lipoprotein(a) apheresis attenuates progression of carotid intima-media thickness in coronary heart disease patients with high lipoprotein(a) levels

Abstract

BackgroundTo date, there have been no studies evaluating the effect of isolated lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) lowering therapy on carotid atherosclerosis progression. MethodsWe enrolled 30 patients who had coronary heart disease (CHD) verified by angiography, Lp(a) level ≥50 mg/dL, and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level ≤2.6 mmol/L (100 mg/dL) on chronic statin therapy. Subjects were allocated in a 1:1 ratio to receive apheresis treatment on a weekly basis with immunoadsorption columns (“Lp(a) Lipopak”®, POCARD Ltd., Russia) added to atorvastatin, or atorvastatin monotherapy. The primary efficacy end-point was the change from baseline in the mean intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid arteries. ResultsAfter one month run-in period with stable atorvastatin dose, LDL-C level was 2.3 ± 0.3 mmol/L and Lp(a) – 105 ± 37 mg/dL. As a result of acute effect of specific Lp(a) apheresis procedures, Lp(a) level decreased by an average of 73 ± 12% to a mean of 29 ± 16 mg/dL, and mean LDL-C decreased by 17 ± 3% to a mean of 1.8 ± 0.2 mmol/L. In the apheresis group, changes in carotid IMT at 9 and 18 months from baseline were −0.03 ± 0.09 mm (p = 0.05) and −0.07 ± 0.15 mm (p = 0.01), respectively. In the atorvastatin group no significant changes in lipid and lipoprotein parameters as well as in carotid IMT were received over 18-month period. Two years after study termination carotid IMT increased by an average of 0.02 ± 0.08 mm in apheresis group and by 0.06 ± 0.10 mm in the control group (p = 0.033). ConclusionIsolated extracorporeal Lp(a) elimination over an 18 months period produced regression of carotid intima–media thickness in stable CHD patients with high Lp(a) levels. This effect was maintained for two years after the end of study.Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02133807).