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Background: The adjuvanted respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) prefusion F protein-based vaccine (RSVPreF3 OA) is approved in adults aged ≥60 years. We evaluated RSVPreF3 OA immunogenicity and safety in adults aged 50-59 years without or with increased risk for RSV disease due to specific chronic medical conditions., Methods: This observer-blind, phase 3, noninferiority trial included adults aged 50-59 years, stratified into 2 subcohorts: those with and those without predefined, stable, chronic medical conditions leading to an increased risk for RSV disease. Participants in both subcohorts were randomized 2:1 to receive RSVPreF3 OA or placebo. A control group of adults aged ≥60 years received RSVPreF3 OA. Primary outcomes were RSV-A and RSV-B neutralization titers (geometric mean titer ratios and sero-response rate differences) 1 month post-vaccination in 50-59-year-olds versus ≥60-year-olds. Cell-mediated immunity and safety were also assessed., Results: The exposed population included 1152 participants aged 50-59 years and 381 participants aged ≥60 years. RSVPreF3 OA was immunologically noninferior in 50-59-year-olds versus ≥60-year-olds; noninferiority criteria were met for RSV-A and RSV-B neutralization titers in those with and those without increased risk for RSV disease. Frequencies of RSVPreF3-specific polyfunctional CD4+ T cells increased substantially from pre- to 1 month post-vaccination. Most solicited adverse events had mild-to-moderate intensity and were transient. Unsolicited and serious adverse event rates were similar in all groups., Conclusions: RSVPreF3 OA was immunologically noninferior in 50-59-year-olds compared to ≥60-year-olds, in whom efficacy was previously demonstrated. The safety profile in 50-59-year-olds was consistent with that in ≥60-year-olds., Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05590403., Competing Interests: Potential conflicts of interest . H. A. H., M. d. H., B. S., S. D., M.-P. D., D. D., J. H., C. V., and V. H. are/were GSK employees at the time when the study was designed and/or conducted. H. A. H., M. d. H., B. S., S. D., M.-P. D., D. D., J. H., and V. H. hold shares in GSK as part of their employee remuneration. M.-P. D. is a co-applicant on a pending patent filed by GSK. M. F. received study-related payments for training and study conduct from GSK. T. F. S. received honoraria for lectures from AstraZeneca, Bavarian Nordic, Biogen, CSL-Seqirus, GSK, Janssen-Cilag, Merck-Serono, Moderna, Novavax, MSD, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi-Aventis, and Takeda; he participated on advisory boards for Bavarian Nordic, CSL-Seqirus, BioNTech, GSK, Moderna, Novavax, and Takeda. S. A. N. declares study-related payments to his institution from GSK and support from GSK to attend investigators meetings. J. R.-G. declares study-related payments from GSK and honoraria and support for attending meetings and/or travel from GSK, Pfizer, and Sanofi-MSD; he also participated on data and safety monitoring boards or advisory boards from GSK and Pfizer. C. Z. received grants from GSK for the conduct of this study and support from GSK for attending meetings. J. G. declares study-related payments from GSK; grants from Novartis, Pharmalog, New Amsterdam Pharma, Syneos, Winecker Pharma, and Lilly; and consulting fees, honoraria, payment for expert testimony, and support for attending meetings and/or travel from GSK. C. V.-P. is a former employee of QPS Netherlands B.V. The other authors report no potential conflicts. All authors have submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest. Conflicts that the editors consider relevant to the content of the manuscript have been disclosed., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Infectious Diseases Society of America.)

Aims: The C-X-C chemokine receptor 3 (CXCR3) axis is highly upregulated in the tissue of patients with type 1 diabetes. Antagonizing CXCR3 may reduce the migration of CXCR3-expressing cells to the pancreas. The pharmacokinetics (PKs), target engagement (TE) (inhibition of CXCR3 internalization) and safety of single- and multiple-ascending doses (SADs and MADs) of ACT-777991, a novel orally available potent CXCR3 antagonist, were assessed in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled phase 1 study., Methods: Doses up to 100 mg (SAD part) and 40 mg twice daily (MAD part) were investigated in a total of 70 male and female healthy participants. Food effect was integrated as an SAD subpart. PK, TE, safety and tolerability data were collected up to 4 days after (last) dosing., Results: In both SAD and MAD parts, ACT-777991 was rapidly absorbed with a time to reach maximum concentration between 0.5 and 1.5 h post dose, followed by a biphasic disposition with a terminal half-life between 9.7 and 10.3 h. Increase in exposure and maximum concentration of ACT-777991 were dose-proportional. Steady state was reached after 48 h with minimal accumulation. The rate but not the extent of absorption was modified by food intake. A dose-dependent TE was demonstrated in both SAD and MAD parts. ACT-777991 was well tolerated. Neither a treatment-related pattern nor a dose-response relationship was determined for adverse events or any safety variable. No QT prolongation liability of regulatory concern was detected., Conclusions: In this first-in-human study, ACT-777991 showed good tolerability for all doses tested and a PK and TE profile suitable for further clinical development., (© 2023 British Pharmacological Society.)

Background: Kisspeptin is an essential regulator of hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone release and is required for physiological ovulation. Native kisspeptin-54 can induce oocyte maturation during in vitro fertilization treatment, including in women who are at high risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. MVT-602 is a potent kisspeptin receptor agonist with prospective utility to treat anovulatory disorders by triggering oocyte maturation and ovulation during medically assisted reproduction (MAR). Currently, the endocrine profile of MVT-602 during ovarian stimulation is unreported., Objective: To determine the endocrine profile of MVT-602 in the follicular phase of healthy premenopausal women (phase-1 trial), and after minimal ovarian stimulation to more closely reflect the endocrine milieu encountered during MAR (phase-2a trial)., Design: Two randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, dose-finding trials., Setting: Clinical trials unit., Patients: Healthy women aged 18-35 years, either without (phase-1; n = 24), or with ovarian stimulation (phase-2a; n = 75)., Interventions: Phase-1: single subcutaneous dose of MVT-602 (0.3, 1.0, or 3.0 μg) or placebo, (n = 6 per dose). Phase-2a: single subcutaneous dose of MVT-602 (0.1, 0.3, 1.0, or 3.0 μg; n = 16-17 per dose), triptorelin 0.2 mg (n = 5; active comparator), or placebo (n = 5)., Main Outcome Measures: Phase-1: safety/tolerability; pharmacokinetics; and pharmacodynamics (luteinizing hormone [LH] and other reproductive hormones). Phase-2a: safety/tolerability; pharmacokinetics; pharmacodynamics (LH and other reproductive hormones); and time to ovulation assessed by transvaginal ultrasound., Results: In both the trials, MVT-602 was safe and well tolerated across the entire dose range. It was rapidly absorbed and eliminated, with a mean elimination half-life of 1.3-2.2 hours. In the phase-2a trial, LH concentrations increased dose dependently; mean maximum change from baseline of 82.4 IU/L at 24.8 hours was observed after administration of 3 μg MVT-602 and remained >15 IU/L for 33 hours. Time to ovulation after drug administration was 3.3-3.9 days (MVT-602), 3.4 days (triptorelin), and 5.5 days (placebo). Ovulation occurred within 5 days of administration in 100% (3 μg), 88% (1 μg), 82% (0.3 μg), and 75% (0.1 μg), of women after MVT-602, 100% after triptorelin and 60% after placebo., Conclusions: MVT-602 induces LH concentrations of similar amplitude and duration as the physiological midcycle LH surge with potential utility for induction of oocyte maturation and ovulation during MAR., Clinical Trial Registration Number: EUDRA-CT: 2017-003812-38, 2018-001379-20., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests A.A. reports Myovant Sciences Ltd Consultancy Fee and NIHR Clinician Scientist Fellowship for the submitted work. M.U. has nothing to disclose. C.V.-P. is an employee of QPS Netherlands BV. L.B. reports contracting consultant to Myovant Sciences outside the submitted work. M.E. has nothing to disclose. R.W. has nothing to disclose. T.-Y.L. has nothing to disclose. J.C.A.F. has nothing to disclose. E.M has nothing to disclose. W.S.D. reports consulted for Myovant Sciences Ltd. for the submitted work; NIHR research professorship; consulting fees from Myovant Sciences outside the submitted work., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background and Objectives: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are proteases with different biological and pathological activities, and many have been linked to several diseases. Targeting individual MMPs may offer a safer therapeutic potential for several diseases. We assessed the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of FP-025, a novel, highly selective oral matrix metalloproteinase-12 inhibitor, in healthy subjects., Methods: Two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies were conducted. Study I was a first-in-man study, evaluating eight single ascending doses (SADs) (50-800 mg) in two formulations: i.e., neat FP-025 in capsule (API-in-Capsule) and in an amorphous solid dispersion (ASD-in-Capsule) formulation. In Study II, three multiple ascending doses (MADs) (100, 200, and 400 mg, twice daily) of FP-025 (ASD-in-Capsule) were administered for 8 days, including a food-effect evaluation., Results: Ninety-six subjects were dosed. Both formulations were well tolerated with one adverse event (AE) reported in the 800 mg API-in-Capsule SAD group and seven AEs throughout the MAD groups. The exposure to FP-025 was low with the API-in-Capsule formulation; it increased dose-dependently with the ASD-in-Capsule formulation, with which exposure to FP-025 increased in a greater-than-dose-proportional manner at lower doses (≤ 100 mg) but less proportionally at higher doses. The elimination half-life (t 1/2 ) was between 6 (Study I) and 8 h (Study II). Accumulation of FP-025 was approximately 1.7-fold in the MAD study. Food intake delayed the rate of absorption, but without effect in the extent of absorption or bioavailability., Conclusion: FP-025 was well tolerated and showed a favorable pharmacokinetic profile following ASD-in-Capsule dosing. Efficacy studies in target patient populations, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and pulmonary fibrosis, are warranted., Trial Registration Number: www.clinicaltrials.gov : NCT02238834 (Study I); NCT03304964 (Study II). Trial registration date: Study I was registered on 12 September 2014 while study II was registered on 9 October 2017.

Background: Fabry disease is a rare inherited glycosphingolipid storage disorder caused by deleterious mutations in the GLA gene coding for the lysosomal enzyme α-galactosidase A. The glucosylceramide synthase inhibitor lucerastat is an iminosugar with potential to provide oral substrate reduction therapy in Fabry disease, regardless of the patient´s underlying mutation. Since lucerastat exhibits systemic exposure and many patients with Fabry disease suffer from rhythm and conduction abnormalities its effects on cardiac repolarization were evaluated in a thorough QT study., Methods: In Part A of this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 1 study, single oral doses of 2000 and 4000 mg lucerastat were investigated to determine the supratherapeutic dose for Part B. The latter was a four-way crossover study to demonstrate that lucerastat at single oral therapeutic and supratherapeutic doses had no effect on the QTc interval > 10 ms using concentration-QTc modeling as primary analysis. The primary ECG endpoint was placebo-corrected change-from-baseline (ΔΔ) in Fridericia-corrected QTc (ΔΔQTcF). Open-label moxifloxacin served as positive control., Results: The effect of lucerastat on ΔΔQTcF was predicted as 0.39 ms (90% confidence interval [CI] - 0.13 to 0.90) and 1.69 ms (90% CI 0.33-3.05) at lucerastat peak plasma concentration after dosing with 1000 mg (5.2 µg/mL) and 4000 mg (24.3 µg/mL), respectively. A QTcF effect > 10 ms was excluded up to lucerastat plasma concentrations of approximately 34.0 µg/mL. Lucerastat did not exert an effect on other ECG parameters. Across doses, absorption of lucerastat was rapid, its elimination half-life ranged from 8.0 to 10.0 h, and the pharmacokinetics (PK) of lucerastat were dose-proportional. Moxifloxacin PK were in line with published data and assay sensitivity was demonstrated by the moxifloxacin QTc response. Lucerastat was safe and well tolerated., Conclusions: Lucerastat up to a dose of 4000 mg has no clinically relevant liability to prolong the QT interval or any clinically relevant effect on other ECG parameters. This will be an important factor in the overall benefit-risk assessment of lucerastat in the potential treatment of Fabry disease. Trial registration The study was registered with the ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT03832452 (February 6th, 2019, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03832452 ) and the EudraCT number 2018-004546-42 (December 17th, 2018).

In vitro studies have indicated that the P2Y12 receptor antagonist selatogrel is a substrate of organic anion-transporting-polypeptide (OATP)1B1 and OATP1B3 that are known to mediate hepatic uptake. Selatogrel is primarily eliminated via the biliary route. Therefore, the study aim was to investigate the effect of rifampin-mediated OATP1B1 and OATP1B3 inhibition on the pharmacokinetics (PK) of selatogrel. This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, two-period, crossover study in 14 healthy subjects. In each period, a single subcutaneous dose of 4 mg selatogrel was administered, either immediately after a single intravenous 30 minutes infusion of 600 mg rifampin or after placebo. Plasma samples were collected for 36 hours and analyzed using a validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method. PK parameters of selatogrel were calculated using noncompartmental analysis. The effect of rifampin was explored based on geometric mean peak plasma concentration (C max ) and area under the concentration curve from zero to infinity (AUC 0-∞ ) ratios and for time of maximum plasma concentration (T max ) by Wilcoxon signed rank test. In addition, the safety and tolerability of the study treatments were evaluated. The geometric mean ratios of C max and AUC 0-∞ were 1.19 (90% confidence interval (CI) 1.11-1.28) and 1.43 (90% CI 1.36-1.51), respectively, indicating a minor selatogrel exposure increase when administered after an infusion of rifampin compared with placebo. Rifampin administration did not affect terminal half-life (t ½ ) or T max of selatogrel. All study treatments were safe and well-tolerated. A single dose of 600 mg rifampin, a potent OATP1B1/1B3 inhibitor, did not impact the PK of selatogrel to a clinically relevant extent suggesting that OATP1B1 and OATP1B3 transporters do not play a major role in the elimination of selatogrel., (© 2020 Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Clinical and Translational Science published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics.)

Glenzocimab (ACT017) is a humanized monoclonal antigen-binding fragment (Fab) directed against the human platelet glycoprotein VI, a key receptor for collagen and fibrin that plays a major role in thrombus growth and stability. Glenzocimab is being developed as an antiplatelet agent to treat the acute phase of ischemic stroke. During a phase I study in healthy volunteers, the population pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of glenzocimab were modeled using Monolix software. The PK/PD model thus described glenzocimab plasma concentrations and its effects on ex vivo collagen-induced platelet aggregation. Glenzocimab was found to have dose-proportional, 2-compartmental PK with a central distribution volume of 4.1 L, and first and second half-lives of 0.84 and 9.6 hours. Interindividual variability in clearance in healthy volunteers was mainly explained by its dependence on body weight. The glenzocimab effect was described using an immediate effect model with a dose-dependent half maximal inhibitory concentration: Larger doses resulted in a stronger effect at the same glenzocimab plasma concentration. The mechanism of the overproportional concentration effect at higher doses remained unexplained. PK/PD simulations predicted that 1000-mg glenzocimab given as a 6-hour infusion reduced platelet aggregation to 20% in 100% of subjects at 6 hours and in 60% of subjects at 12 hours after dosing. Simulations revealed a limited impact of creatinine clearance on exposure, suggesting that no dose adjustments were required with respect to renal function. Future studies in patients with ischemic stroke are now needed to establish the relationship between ex vivo platelet aggregation and the clinical effect., (© 2020 The Authors. The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Clinical Pharmacology.)

This study investigated the potential QT liability of the selective endothelin-1 A receptor antagonist clazosentan at a therapeutic (20 mg/h) and supratherapeutic (60 mg/h) intravenous (i.v.) dose. A randomized, placebo- and moxifloxacin-controlled, double-blind, 3-period, crossover study was conducted in 36 healthy subjects receiving clazosentan (20 mg/h followed by 60 mg/h i.v. for 3 h each), placebo (i.v. for 6 h), and moxifloxacin (single oral dose of 400 mg concomitantly with placebo i.v. for 6 h). At least three replicate ECGs were extracted from Holter recordings at predefined time points from 1 h pre-dose to 24 h after end of infusion. Pharmacokinetic blood sampling was performed for concentration/QT analysis (primary endpoint). For moxifloxacin, the lower bound of the 90% confidence interval (CI) of baseline- and placebo-corrected QTcF (ΔΔQTcF) was > 5 ms at its maximum plasma concentration together with a positive slope of the concentration/QT regression line demonstrating assay sensitivity. For clazosentan, time of peak exposure preceded maximum ΔΔQTcF by 4 h indicating delayed QT-prolonging effects leading to invalidity of the concentration/QT analysis. The secondary by-time-point analysis revealed QT liability of clazosentan (i.e., upper bound of 90% CI ∆∆QTcF > 10 ms). Delayed QT prolongation (i.e., hysteresis) was predominantly observed in subjects with nausea and vomiting, potentially caused by vagal reaction and/or decreases in potassium concentration. By contrast, there was no association with other adverse events, food intake, or concomitant medication. In conclusion, clazosentan at therapeutic and supratherapeutic doses has QT liability with hysteresis effects being associated with nausea and vomiting.

Clazosentan is a selective endothelin A receptor antagonist in development for the prevention and treatment of vasospasm postsubarachnoid hemorrhage. It is a substrate of organic anion-transporting polypeptide 1B1/1B3 based on preclinical data. This randomized, double-blind, two-period, cross-over study investigated the pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of an intravenous infusion of clazosentan (15 mg/hour for 3 hours) after the intravenous administration of placebo or rifampin (600 mg/100 mL in 30 minutes). A total of 14 healthy male participants were enrolled resulting in 13 completers. Clazosentan exposure was three to four times higher after organic anion-transporting polypeptide 1B1/1B3 inhibition, as reflected by the geometric mean ratio (90% confidence interval) of area under the plasma concentration-time curve from zero to infinity: 3.88 (3.24-4.65). Clearance and volume of distribution decreased to a similar extent. Elimination half-life was not affected. A similar pattern but a higher incidence and frequency of adverse events were observed when clazosentan was given with rifampin than with placebo., (© 2019 Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Clinical and Translational Science published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics.)

Objective- ACT017 is a novel, first in class, therapeutic antibody to platelet GPVI (glycoprotein VI) with potent and selective antiplatelet effects. This first-in-human, randomized, placebo-controlled phase 1 study was conducted to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of ACT017 in healthy subjects. Approach and Results- Six cohorts of 8 healthy male and female subjects each received ascending single doses of ACT017 (n=6) or placebo (n=2) as a 6-hour intravenous infusion, with ¼ of the total dose administered within 15 minutes and the rest of the dose (¾ of the total dose) administered within 5 hours and 45 minutes. The 6 investigated doses ranged from 62.5 to 2000 mg. All doses of ACT017 were well tolerated, and no serious adverse events occurred during the study. None of the subjects reported an infusion site reaction. Template bleeding time was not affected in a clinically significant manner by any of the ACT017 doses. Plasma concentrations, determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, increased linearly with the dose received as were the established pharmacokinetics values. There was no change in the platelet count, platelet GPVI expression assessed by flow cytometry, or plasma levels of soluble GPVI assessed by ELISA. In contrast, administration of ACT017 inhibited collagen-induced platelet aggregation measured by light transmission aggregometry on platelet-rich plasma, and the extent and duration of the effect were dose-dependent. Conclusions- The novel antiplatelet agent ACT017 has consistent pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic properties and favorable safety and tolerability profiles warranting further clinical development.

Objective: To investigate the role of abdominal and body obesity on the prevalence of hyperlipidemia, in particular, hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, and high apolipoprotein B levels, in familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCHL) relatives and their spouses., Research Methods and Procedures: In FCHL relatives (n = 618) and spouses (n = 297), prevalence data of hyperlipidemia and high apolipoprotein B levels and their age and gender-corrected odds ratios (ORs) were calculated for sex-adjusted categories of waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist circumference, and BMI., Results: Increments of BMI, waist circumference, and WHR increased the frequency of hyperlipidemia. In the whole study population (relatives and spouses combined), frequency of hypertriglyceridemia showed a significant interaction only between WHR categories and FCHL. This was studied further after stratification of relatives by multivariable logistic regression analyses corrected for age and gender. Predominant expression of hypertriglyceridemia was observed with higher categories of WHR in FCHL relatives (prevalence up to 57.6%, OR 8.48 in highest vs. lowest WHR category, p < 0.001) but not in spouses (up to 32.9%, OR 1.05 in highest vs. lowest WHR category, not significant)., Discussion: Both in spouses and FCHL relatives, increments in BMI and waist circumference increased the prevalence of hyperlipidemia. Specifically, in FCHL relatives, WHR was the most informative determinant of the expression of hyperlipidemia, in particular, hypertriglyceridemia. The data indicate that FCHL develops against a background of abdominal obesity.

In patients with familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCHL) and type 2 diabetes (DM2) organ-specific differences in insulin resistance may exist. In FCHL and DM2 in vivo insulin mediated muscle glucose uptake and inhibition of lipolysis were studied by euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp. Insulin mediated glucose uptake was impaired to the same extent in both FCHL and DM2. Only FCHL subjects showed no reduction in plasma glycerol concentrations during insulin infusion and incomplete suppression of plasma free fatty acid (FFA) concentrations combined. This finding indicated that insulin-induced suppression of lipolysis, or glycerol/FFA utilization, or both, were impaired in FCHL, in contrast to DM2 or control subjects. To analyze these possibilities in more detail, control, FCHL, and DM2 adipocytes were studied in vitro. In contrast to adipocytes from DM2 or control subjects, no reduction in medium FFA concentration was detected with FCHL adipocytes after incubation with insulin. This finding indicated impaired intracellular FFA utilization, most likely impaired FFA re-esterification. Genetic linkage analysis in 18 Dutch families with FCHL revealed no evidence for involvement of LIPE, the hormone sensitive lipase gene, indicating that genetic variation in adipocyte lipolysis by LIPE is not the key defect in FCHL. In conclusion, FCHL as well as DM2 subjects exhibited in vivo insulin resistance to glucose disposal, which occurs mainly in muscle. FCHL subjects showed insulin resistant adipose tissue lipid metabolism, in contrast to DM2 and controls. The different pattern of organ-specific insulin resistance in FCHL versus DM2 advances our understanding of differences and similarities in phenotypes between these disorders.

Aim: To determine the prevalence of non-fatal coronary artery disease (CAD) in kindred with Familial Combined Hyperlipidemia (FCHL) in relation to various cardiovascular risk factors and DNA variation in the apo AI-CIII-AIV gene cluster., Methods and Results: Data were collected from 18 Dutch FCHL probands, 202 living first and second degree relatives, and 175 spouses. Probands and first degree relatives showed dyslipidemia, increased plasma insulin and glucose concentrations, higher waist--hip ratio (WHR), and blood pressure, than spouses. The frequency of the minor alleles M2 and S2 was increased in probands and first degree relatives. The Odds Ratio for CAD was 5.3 in male FCHL relatives (P=0.005), and 5.1 in all FCHL relatives (P=0.001). First and second degree relatives had a markedly reduced CAD-free life-span (logrank vs. spouses: P<0.001 and P=0.03, respectively). The presence of the S2, but not M2, minor allele, showed a marked reduction in CAD-free life-span (logrank S2 present vs. S2 absent: P=0.035)., Conclusion: Men with FCHL have a severely increased risk of CAD, that appears to be mediated through genetic relation to the proband as the strongest independent risk factor for CAD, followed by increased WHR.

Familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCHL) is the most frequent genetic lipid abnormality in humans, with a 5- to 10-fold increased risk of early myocardial infarction. Familial combined hyperlipidemia has been proposed as the leading cause of dyslipidemia in familial dyslipidemic hypertension (FDH). It was the objective of this study to quantify and analyze the simultaneous occurrence of hypertension and hyperlipidemia in FCHL families. We assessed blood pressure (BP) and hyperlipidemia in 27 families with FCHL (235 relatives and 140 spouses, aged 30 to 60 years). Hypertension was defined as a BP more than 140/90 mm Hg, or the use of antihypertensive medication. Multiple backward linear regression analysis was used to derive a biological formula describing BP in FCHL families. One-third of 27 FCHL families were diagnosed with FDH. Sixty-four of 235 (27.2%) relatives had dyslipidemic hypertension (DH), compared to 20 of 140 (14.3%) spouses (P = .005); odds ratio = 2.25 (95% confidence interval 1.29-3.91). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that age, FCHL status, and waist circumference significantly contributed to systolic blood pressure (SBP) in female FCHL relatives. In conclusion, in FCHL we defined age, waist circumference, and hyperlipidemia as predictors of SBP. This study indicates that visceral adipose tissue strongly contributes to the high prevalence of DH in FCHL families. Reduction of visceral fat should be tested as a potential therapeutic intervention for hyperlipidemia and hypertension in FCHL individuals.