Lipoprotein Apheresis Acutely Reverses Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction in Patients With Severe Hypercholesterolemia

• Published in: JACC. Cardiovascular imaging Vol. 12; no. 8; pp. 1430 - 1440
• Main Authors: Wu, Melinda D., Moccetti, Federico, Brown, Eran, Davidson, Brian P., Atkinson, Tamara, Belcik, J. Todd, Giraud, George, Duell, P. Barton, Fazio, Sergio, Tavori, Hagai, Tsimikas, Sotirios, Lindner, Jonathan R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.08.2019
• Subjects: Aged; Animals; apheresis; Biomarkers - blood; Blood Component Removal - adverse effects; Case-Control Studies; Cholesterol, LDL - blood; contrast ultrasound; Coronary Circulation; Coronary Disease - blood; Coronary Disease - diagnostic imaging; Coronary Disease - etiology; Coronary Disease - physiopathology; Down-Regulation; familial hypercholesterolemia; Female; Humans; Hypercholesterolemia - blood; Hypercholesterolemia - complications; Hypercholesterolemia - diagnosis; Hypercholesterolemia - therapy; Male; Microcirculation; Middle Aged; Muscle, Skeletal - blood supply; myocardial contrast echocardiography; Peripheral Arterial Disease - blood; Peripheral Arterial Disease - diagnostic imaging; Peripheral Arterial Disease - etiology; Peripheral Arterial Disease - physiopathology; Recovery of Function; Severity of Illness Index; Sheep, Domestic; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; MBV; OxPL; eNOS; FH; LDL-C; Ach; apo B; MCE; GLS; CEU; contrast ultrasound; apheresis; familial hypercholesterolemia; myocardial contrast echocardiography
• ISSN: 1936-878X; 1876-7591; 1876-7591
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmg.2018.05.001

This study evaluated whether lipoprotein apheresis produces immediate changes in resting perfusion in subjects with severe hypercholesterolemia, and whether there is a difference in the response between peripheral and coronary microcirculations. Lipoprotein apheresis is used in patients with severe hypercholesterolemia to reduce plasma levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Quantitative contrast-enhanced ultrasound perfusion imaging of the myocardium at rest and skeletal muscle at rest and during calibrated contractile exercise was performed before and immediately after lipoprotein apheresis in 8 subjects with severe hypercholesterolemia, 7 of whom had a diagnosis of familial hypercholesterolemia. Myocardial perfusion imaging was also performed in 14 normal control subjects. Changes in myocardial work and left ventricular function were assessed by echocardiography. Ex vivo ovine coronary and femoral artery ring tension assays were assessed in the presence of pre- and post-apheresis plasma. Apheresis acutely decreased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (234.9 ± 103.2 mg/dl vs. 67.1 ± 49.5 mg/dl; p < 0.01) and oxidized phospholipid on apolipoprotein B-100 (60.2 ± 55.2 nmol/l vs. 47.0 ± 24.5 nmol/l; p = 0.01), and acutely increased resting myocardial perfusion (55.1 [95% confidence interval: 77.2 to 73.1] IU/s vs. 135 [95% confidence interval: 81.2 to 189.6] IU/s; p = 0.01), without changes in myocardial work. Myocardial longitudinal strain improved in those subjects with reduced pre-apheresis function. Skeletal muscle perfusion at rest and during contractile exercise was unchanged by apheresis. Acetylcholine-mediated dilation of ex vivo ovine coronary but not femoral arteries was impaired in pre-apheresis plasma and was completely reversed in post-apheresis plasma. Lipoprotein apheresis produces an immediate improvement in coronary microvascular function, which increases myocardial perfusion and normalizes endothelial-dependent vasodilation. These changes are not observed in the periphery. (Acute Microvascular Changes With LDL Apheresis; NCT02388633) [Display omitted]