Author(s): Tooba Adnan, Munazza Ahmad, Wardah M. Chaudhri, Ahsan Zil-E-Ali,Muhammad Umar Masood Gondal, Syed Muhammad Hammad Ali,Maira Nusrat,Saad Wasiq
Dyslipidemia is a disease of abnormal lipid levels in the blood that contributes to the
atherosclerotic process. This atherogenic process leads to the formation of plaque and also
leads to thromboembolic events and other vascular accidents. It is known that high-density
lipoprotein cholesterol serves as a protective effect on the vessel wall and causes the reduction
in the progression of atherosclerosis. And multiple interventions are directed in maintaining a
higher level of the aforementioned lipoprotein cholesterol. While the low-density lipoprotein
stays controversial but lowering its levels through various therapeutic agents is the main goal in
the management of dyslipidemia. A
newer group of drugs, proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin
type 9 inhibitors lowers the levels of low-density lipoprotein through modulating proprotein
convertase subtilisin/kexin type
9 gene involved in cholesterol metabolism and affects the levels
of the lipoproteins by controlling the receptors. The inhibitors of this gene decrease proprotein
convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9-induced low-density lipoprotein receptor degradation in the
lysosomes of hepatocytes increasing its recfycling and expression on the cell surface, causing
increased clearance of low-density lipoprotein from the circulation. These drugs Alicuromab,
Evolocumab and along with other agents can be a novel approach in controlling dyslipidemic
state. This review revisits the literature in understanding the pathophysiology of dyslipidemia
along with its management by proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type
9 inhibitors, its
mechanism of action, its pharmacokinetics, the results of the clinical trials and the limitations in
its application.