ARTICLE: Rapid Improvement of Coronary Endothelial Function With PCSK9 Inhibition in People With HIV Is Associated With Reduced Lipoprotein (a) and Not LDL-cholesterol
AUTHORS: Tarek Harb, Efthymios Ziogos, Michael Schär, Todd T Brown, Shenghan Lai, Gary Gerstenblith, Allison G Hays, Thorsten M Leucker
JOURNAL: Circ Cardiovasc Imaging. 2023 Oct;16(10):e015693. doi: 10.1161/CIRCIMAGING.123.015693.
Coronary endothelial dysfunction is an established driver for the development of coronary atherosclerosis, and abnormal coronary endothelial function (CEF) is an independent predictor of adverse cardiovascular events. Advances in magnetic resonance imaging make it possible to quantify CEF by measuring changes in the coronary cross-sectional area in response to isometric handgrip exercise, an endothelial-dependent stressor. Healthy coronaries respond by vasodilatation and thus an increase in cross-sectional area is measured; no change or paradoxical vasoconstriction is seen in the presence of endothelial dysfunction.1 This noninvasive method allows assessment of the effectiveness of interventions that may improve CEF.
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