George Liamis

Background and Aim: Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity has been associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). We aimed to investigate the association of ALP with ASCVD in patients with dyslipidemia. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study including consecutive adults with dyslipidemia followed-up for ≥3 years (from 1999 to 2022) in the outpatient Lipid Clinic of Ioannina University General Hospital, Greece. The primary endpoint was the association between baseline ALP and incident ASCVD after adjusting for traditional risk factors (i.e., sex, age, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and dyslipidemia), baseline ASCVD, and lipid-lowering treatment. ALP levels were stratified by tertiles as follows: low: p = 0.001). Subjects in the highest ALP tertile had the highest odds for ASCVD when compared with those in the lowest tertile (OR: 2.35; 95% CI: 1.24–4.41, p = 0.008). Conclusions: The present study indicates an association between ALP and the development of ASCVD in patients with dyslipidemia, which underscores the potential of ALP as a predictive tool or a therapeutic target in the realm of ASCVD prevention within this population.

Background and Aim: Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity has been associated with ath-erosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). We aimed to investigate the association of ALP with ASCVD in patients with dyslipidemia. Methods: Retrospective cohort study including consecutive adults with dyslipidemia followed-up for ≥3 years (from 1999 to 2022) in the outpatient Lipid Clinic of Ioannina University General Hospital, Greece. The primary endpoint was the association between baseline ALP and incident ASCVD after adjusting for traditional risk factors (i.e. sex, age, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, dyslipidemia), baseline ASCVD and lipid-lowering treatment. ALP levels were stratified by ter-tiles as follows: low:<67 U/L, middle: 67-79 U/L, high: ≥79 U/L. Results: Overall, 1178 subjects were included; 44% were males and their median age was 57 years (range 49-65). During a 6-year median follow-up (interquartile range IQR: 4-9), 78 new ASCVD events (6.6%) occurred. A statistically significant association between baseline ALP levels and incident ASCVD was demonstrated (Odds Ratio, OR: 6.99, 95% Confidence Interval, CI: 2.29-21.03, p=0.001). Subjects in the highest ALP tertile had the highest odds for ASCVD when compared with those in the lowest tertile (OR: 2.35; 95% CI: 1.24-4.41, p=0.008). Conclusions: The present study demonstrated that ALP is associated with ASCVD development in patients with dyslipidemia.

Background: Statins are associated with new-onset type 2 diabetes (T2D), mainly in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS). The fatty liver index (FLI) is used as a prognostic score for the diagnosis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is common in patients with MetS. We aimed to investigate the association of FLI with new-onset T2D in patients initiating statin therapy. Methods: A retrospective observational study including 1241 individuals with dyslipidemia and followed up for ≥3 years. Patients with T2D and those receiving lipid-lowering treatment at the baseline visit were excluded. Models with clinical and laboratory parameters were used to assess the association of FLI with incident T2D. Results: Among the 882 eligible subjects, 11% developed T2D during the follow-up (6 years; IQR: 4–10 years). After adjusting for sex, age and MetS parameters, a multivariate analysis revealed that age (HR:1.05; 95%CI: 1.01–1.09, p < 0.05), fasting plasma glucose (HR: 1.09; 95%CI: 1.06–1.13, p < 0.001) and FLI (HR: 1.02; 95%CI: 1.01–1.04, p < 0.01) were independently associated with T2D risk. The subjects with probable NAFLD (FLI ≥ 60) had a three-fold increased T2D risk compared with the subjects with FLI < 60 (HR: 3.14; 95%CI: 1.50–6.59, p = 0.001). A ROC curve analysis showed that FLI had a significant, although poor, predictive value for assessing T2D risk (C-Statistic: 0.67; 95%CI: 0.58–0.77, p = 0.001). Higher FLI values were associated with reduced T2D-free survival (log-rank = 15.46, p < 0.001). Conclusions: FLI is significantly and independently associated with new-onset T2D risk in patients initiating statin therapy.

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is the most frequent genetic disorder resulting in increased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels from childhood, leading to premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) if left untreated. FH diagnosis is based on clinical criteria and/or genetic testing and its prevalence is estimated as being up to 1:300,000–400,000 for the homozygous and ~1:200–300 for the heterozygous form. Apart from its late diagnosis, FH is also undertreated, despite the available lipid-lowering therapies. In addition, elevated lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) (>50 mg/dL; 120 nmol/L), mostly genetically determined, has been identified as an important cardiovascular risk factor with prevalence rate of ~20% in the general population. Novel Lp(a)-lowering therapies have been recently developed and their cardiovascular efficacy is currently investigated. Although a considerable proportion of FH patients is also diagnosed with high Lp(a) levels, there is a debate whether these two entities are associated. Nevertheless, Lp(a), particularly among patients with FH, has been established as a significant cardiovascular risk factor. In this narrative review, we present up-to-date evidence on the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of both FH and elevated Lp(a) with a special focus on their association and joint effect on ASCVD risk.

Hypertriglyceridemia has been identified as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and acute pancreatitis. To date, there are only few drug classes targeting triglyceride levels such as fibrates and ω-3 fatty acids. These agents are at times insufficient to address very high triglycerides and the residual cardiovascular risk in patients with mixed dyslipidemia. To address this unmet clinical need, novel triglyceride-lowering agents have been in different phases of early clinical development. In this review, the latest and experimental therapies for the management of hypertriglyceridemia are presented. Specifically, ongoing trials evaluating novel apolipoprotein C-III inhibitors, ω-3 fatty acids, as well as fibroblast growth 21 analogues are discussed.

Background: Hyponatremia is frequent in acute stroke patients, and it is associated with worse outcomes and increased mortality. Summary: Nonstroke-related causes of hyponatremia include patients’ comorbidities and concomitant medications, such as diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, heart failure, and thiazides. During hospitalization, “inappropriate” administration of hypotonic solutions, poor solute intake, infections, and other drugs, such as mannitol, could also lower sodium levels in patients with acute stroke. On the other hand, secondary adrenal insufficiency due to pituitary ischemia or hemorrhage, syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion, and cerebral salt wasting are additional stroke-related causes of hyponatremia. Although it is yet unclear whether the appropriate restoration of sodium level improves outcomes in patients with acute stroke, the restoration of the volume depletion remains the cornerstone of treatment in hypovolemic hyponatremia. In case of hyper- and euvolemic hyponatremia, apart from the correction of the underlying cause (e.g., withdrawal of an offending drug), fluid restriction, administration of hypertonic solution, loop diuretics, and vasopressin-receptor antagonists (vaptans) are among the therapeutic options. Key Messages: Hyponatremia is frequent in patients with acute stroke. The plethora of underlying etiologies warrants a careful differential diagnosis which should take into consideration comorbidities, concurrent medication, findings from the clinical examination, and laboratory measurements, which in turn will guide management decisions. However, it is yet unclear whether the appropriate restoration of sodium level improves outcomes in patients with acute stroke.