How low can you go? Hard to go too low with LDL cholesterol, Aussie lipids lead says

+Print Archive

Pathology Update

How low can you go? Hard to go too low with LDL cholesterol, Aussie lipids lead says

10 April 2019

Wednesday 10 April 2019, 08:00 AM

Melbourne endocrinologist Richard O’Brien says new monoclonal antibody drugs can produce large reductions in LDL cholesterol in people with familial hypercholesterolaemia

At Pathology Update, Virginia McMillan caught up on new treatments for a condition where LDL reduction is critical

Familial hypercholesterolaemia is managed the same way we manage other hypercholesterolaemias – we start with diet and a statin GPs often worry

Genetics

References

1. Zhao Z, Tuakli-Wosornu Y, Lagace TA et al. Molecular characterization of loss-of-function mutations in PCSK9 and identification of a compound heterozygote. Am J Hum Genet 2006;79(3):514–523.

2. CTT Collaboration, Baigent C, Blackwell L et al. Efficacy and safety of more intensive lowering of LDL cholesterol: a meta-analysis of data from 170,000 participants in 26 randomised trials. Lancet 2010; 13;376:1670–1681.

3. He N, Wu C, Ren Z et al. Lowering serum lipids via PCSK9-targeting drugs: current advances and future perspectives. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2017; 38;3:301–311.

Print Archive

How to Treat

+How to treat

Polypharmacy

For older people and frail people, the long-term benefit of medicines reduces and the potential for harm from adverse effects increases. When the benefit–risk balance changes in this way, medicine review and optimisation are important to simplify the therapeutic regimen, reduce inappropriate medicines and minimise risks. In this article, pharmacist prescriber Linda Bryant uses two case studies to illustrate important considerations during medicine reviews

Wednesday 28 May 2025, 12:50 AM