Faculty Bibliography

The strong association between lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease has led to considerations of Lp(a) being a potential target for mitigating residual cardiovascular risk. While approximately 20 % of the population has an Lp(a) level greater than 50 mg/dL, there are no currently available pharmacological lipid-lowering therapies that have demonstrated substantial reduction in Lp(a). Novel therapies to lower Lp(a) include antisense oligonucleotides and small-interfering ribonucleic acid molecules and have shown promising results in phase 2 trials. Phase 3 trials are currently underway and will test the causal relationship between Lp(a) and ASCVD and whether lowering Lp(a) reduces cardiovascular outcomes. In this review, we summarize emerging insights related to Lp(a)'s role as a risk-enhancing factor for ASCVD, association with calcific aortic stenosis, effects of existing therapies on Lp(a) levels, and variations amongst patient populations. The evolving therapeutic landscape of emerging therapeutics is further discussed.

The Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription pathway plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of many immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs). Although Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi) are an effective treatment for several IMIDs, they have come under scrutiny as a class because of a potential risk of venous thromboembolism and cardiovascular (CV) events, specifically noted with the oral JAKi, tofacitinib, as reported in the ORAL Surveillance Trial of a high CV risk rheumatoid arthritis population. This trial resulted in a black box warning from the Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency regarding risk of venous thromboembolism and CV events that was extended across several types of JAKi (including topical ruxolitinib) when treating IMIDs, leading to considerable controversy. Included is an up-to-date review of the current and rapidly evolving literature on CV risk in patients with IMIDs on JAKi therapy, including identification of potential risk factors for future venous thromboembolism and CV events on JAKi therapy. We suggest a comprehensive, multimodal, and systematic approach for evaluation of CV risk in patients considering taking JAKi and emphasize that cardiologists play an important role in risk stratification and mitigation for patients with high CV risk factors or on long-term JAKi therapies.

Alopecia is traditionally classified into scarring and nonscarring subtypes, with etiopathologies ranging from androgen-mediated to immuno-inflammatory. Over 50% of men and almost 50% of women will experience some form of hair loss in their lifetime. Given this prevalence and the psychosocial significance of hair, understanding the pathophysiology and comorbidities of different types of hair loss is imperative. Other proinflammatory dermatologic disorders, such as psoriasis, are recognised to have systemic manifestations including an increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease, and are now considered CV risk-enhancing conditions. With increased recognition of the importance of systemic inflammation in promoting atherosclerosis, high prevalence, and improved treatment strategies, there is increased interest in establishing whether a similar association between alopecia and cardiovascular disease (CVD) exists. In this manuscript, we aim to review the current literature regarding CV risk in androgenic alopecia (AGA) and alopecia areata (AA). Additionally, we review the literature for cicatricial alopecias and highlight the need for more research into their potential associations with CV risk. Evidence from the identified AGA publications suggests an association of AGA with CV risk factors including hypertension, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance, as well as with coronary artery disease. For AA, most of the identified studies found an association between AA and CV risk, though the relationships were not always statistically significant. Research on cicatricial alopecias and CV risk is limited and often contradictory. There is great need for more studies regarding the association between various types of alopecia and the development of CVD, and potential mechanisms. Particularly needed are more studies of cicatricial alopecias and potential associated CV risk. While some literature suggests that patients with alopecia have an increased risk of CVD, the lack of concrete evidence represents a notable gap in our current understanding.