Treating Coronary Artery Disease: Beyond Statins, Ezetimibe, and PCSK9 Inhibition

Annu Rev Med. 2021 Jan 27:72:447-458. doi: 10.1146/annurev-med-080819-044918. Epub 2020 Nov 24.

Abstract

Statins, ezetimibe, and PCSK9 inhibitors are currently the standard of care for the prevention and treatment of coronary artery disease. Despite their widespread use, coronary artery disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide, a fact that pleads for the development of new protective therapies. In no small part due to advances in the field of human genetics, many new therapies targeting various lipid traits or inflammation have recently received approval from regulatory agencies such as the US Food and Drug Administration or fared favorably in clinical trials. This wave of new therapies promises to transform the care of patients at risk for life-threatening coronary events.

Keywords: cholesterol; coronary artery disease; genetics; inflammation; lipoproteins; triglycerides.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anticholesteremic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Coronary Artery Disease / drug therapy*
  • Coronary Artery Disease / metabolism
  • Ezetimibe / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • PCSK9 Inhibitors*

Substances

  • Anticholesteremic Agents
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
  • PCSK9 Inhibitors
  • PCSK9 protein, human
  • Ezetimibe