Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39304616›Full record

SynthesisAmerican journal of cardiovascular drugs : drugs, devices, and other interventions2025

Efficacy of Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9 Inhibitors in Patients with Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia: A Meta-analysis.

Mahsa Movahedan, Ursula M Ellis, Arden R Barry

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in American journal of cardiovascular drugs : drugs, devices, and other interventions, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. International journal of molecular sciences · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Mahsa MovahedanSt. Paul's Hospital, Lower Mainland Pharmacy Services, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Ursula M EllisWoodward Library, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Arden R BarryFaculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of British Columbia, 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada. arden.barry@ubc.ca.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0287-898X

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPatients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) are at high risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and mortality. Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors (PCSK9i), including monoclonal antibodies (alirocumab, evolocumab) and small interfering RNA (inclisiran), substantially reduce lipid levels. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy of both types of PCSK9i specifically in patients with HeFH.

methodsA librarian-assisted systematic search of MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL, and ClinicalTrials.gov was performed from 2013 to 2023. Randomized controlled trials of PCSK9i versus control in patients with HeFH were included. No language restrictions were applied. Cochrane Risk-of-Bias tool 2 was used to assess quality of evidence. Meta-analyses were performed using Cochrane ReviewManager. Outcomes included change in atherogenic lipids, MACE, and all-cause death.

resultsSeven trials were included (N = 2196). Overall risk of bias was mostly low or with some concerns. Median follow-up was 24 weeks. PCSK9i had an uncertain effect on MACE (odds ratio [OR] 1.25, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.69-2.26) and all-cause death (OR 2.47, 95% CI 0.33-18.26) due to the low event rate and short follow-up. However, PCSK9i significantly reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) by 54% (95% CI 49-58), apolipoprotein B by 43% (95% CI 37-49), and lipoprotein(a) by 20% (95% CI 13-28).

conclusionsIn patients with HeFH, PCSK9i significantly reduced atherogenic lipids (LDL-C, apolipoprotein B, and lipoprotein[a]). Despite this, the effect on MACE or all-cause death was unclear. Larger-scale randomized controlled trials of longer duration are needed to validate whether this short-term reduction in lipid levels translates into a reduction in clinically meaningful outcomes.

Indexed as

Anticholesteremic AgentsHyperlipoproteinemia Type IIPCSK9 InhibitorsAntibodies, Monoclonal, HumanizedCholesterol, LDLHeterozygoteHumansProprotein Convertase 9Randomized Controlled Trials as TopicRNA, Small InterferingalirocumabAntibodies, Monoclonal, HumanizedAnticholesteremic AgentsCholesterol, LDLevolocumabPCSK9 InhibitorsPCSK9 protein, humanProprotein Convertase 9RNA, Small Interfering

Identifiers

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.