Familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder. This study aimed to analyze the genotype distribution of FCS-causing genes in the United Kingdom. Data were anonymously Show more
Familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder. This study aimed to analyze the genotype distribution of FCS-causing genes in the United Kingdom. Data were anonymously collated from 2 genetic testing laboratories providing national genetic diagnosis services for severe hypertriglyceridemia in the United Kingdom. As of December 2023, 880 individuals underwent genetic testing for FCS. The mean (SD) age at the time of genetic testing was 42.5 (15.3) years. After genotyping, 12.9% of the individuals ( The genetic architecture of FCS in the United Kingdom is complex, with a substantial proportion affected by non- Show less
This review endeavours to explore the aetiopathogenesis and impact of severe hypertriglyceridemia (SHTG) and chylomicronaemia on cardiovascular, and pancreatic complications and summarizes the novel p Show more
This review endeavours to explore the aetiopathogenesis and impact of severe hypertriglyceridemia (SHTG) and chylomicronaemia on cardiovascular, and pancreatic complications and summarizes the novel pharmacological options for management. SHTG, although rare, presents significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Familial chylomicronaemia syndrome (FCS), is the rare monogenic form of SHTG, associated with increased acute pancreatitis (AP) risk, whereas relatively common multifactorial chylomicronaemia syndrome (MCS) leans more towards cardiovascular complications. Despite the introduction and validation of the FCS Score, FCS continues to be underdiagnosed and diagnosis is often delayed. Longitudinal data on disease progression remains scant. SHTG-induced AP remains a life-threatening concern, with conservative treatment as the cornerstone while blood purification techniques offer limited additional benefit. Conventional lipid-lowering medications exhibit minimal efficacy, underscoring the growing interest in novel therapeutic avenues, that is, antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) and short interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting apolipoprotein C3 (ApoC3) and angiopoietin-like protein 3 and/or 8 (ANGPTL3/8). Despite advancements in understanding the genetic basis and pathogenesis of SHTG, diagnostic and therapeutic challenges persist. The rarity of FCS and the heterogenous phenotype of MCS underscore the need for the development of predictive models for complications and tailored personalized treatment strategies. The establishment of national and international registries is advocated to augment disease comprehension and identify high-risk individuals. Show less
Familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder. This study aimed to study the genotype distribution of FCS-causing genes in the United Kingdom, genotype-phenotype corre Show more
Familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder. This study aimed to study the genotype distribution of FCS-causing genes in the United Kingdom, genotype-phenotype correlation, and clinical differences between FCS and multifactorial chylomicronemia syndrome (MCS). The study included 154 patients (FCS, 74; MCS, 80) from the UK FCS national registry and the UK arm of the FCS International Quality Improvement and Service Evaluation Project. FCS was relatively common in non-Europeans and those with parental consanguinity ( The frequency of gene variant distribution varies based on the ethnic origin of patients with FCS. Patients with FCS are at a higher risk of pancreatic complications while the prevalence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is lower in FCS compared with MCS. Carriers of heterozygous pathogenic variants have an intermediate phenotype between FCS and variant-negative MCS. Show less
Bariatric surgery (BS) results in metabolic pathway recalibration. We have identified potential biomarkers in plasma of people achieving type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remission after BS. Longitudina Show more
Bariatric surgery (BS) results in metabolic pathway recalibration. We have identified potential biomarkers in plasma of people achieving type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remission after BS. Longitudinal analysis was performed on plasma from 10 individuals following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass ( Show less
Familial chylomicronemia syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that is caused by loss of lipoprotein lipase activity and characterized by chylomicronemia and recurrent episodes of pancreatitis. There ar Show more
Familial chylomicronemia syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that is caused by loss of lipoprotein lipase activity and characterized by chylomicronemia and recurrent episodes of pancreatitis. There are no effective therapies. In an open-label study of three patients with this syndrome, antisense-mediated inhibition of hepatic We conducted a phase 3, double-blind, randomized 52-week trial to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of volanesorsen in 66 patients with familial chylomicronemia syndrome. Patients were randomly assigned, in a 1:1 ratio, to receive volanesorsen or placebo. The primary end point was the percentage change in fasting triglyceride levels from baseline to 3 months. Patients receiving volanesorsen had a decrease in mean plasma apolipoprotein C-III levels from baseline of 25.7 mg per deciliter, corresponding to an 84% decrease at 3 months, whereas patients receiving placebo had an increase in mean plasma apolipoprotein C-III levels from baseline of 1.9 mg per deciliter, corresponding to a 6.1% increase (P<0.001). Patients receiving volanesorsen had a 77% decrease in mean triglyceride levels, corresponding to a mean decrease of 1712 mg per deciliter (19.3 mmol per liter) (95% confidence interval [CI], 1330 to 2094 mg per deciliter [15.0 to 23.6 mmol per liter]), whereas patients receiving placebo had an 18% increase in mean triglyceride levels, corresponding to an increase of 92.0 mg per deciliter (1.0 mmol per liter) (95% CI, -301.0 to 486 mg per deciliter [-3.4 to 5.5 mmol per liter]) (P<0.001). At 3 months, 77% of the patients in the volanesorsen group, as compared with 10% of patients in the placebo group, had triglyceride levels of less than 750 mg per deciliter (8.5 mmol per liter). A total of 20 of 33 patients who received volanesorsen had injection-site reactions, whereas none of the patients who received placebo had such reactions. No patients in the placebo group had platelet counts below 100,000 per microliter, whereas 15 of 33 patients in the volanesorsen group had such levels, including 2 who had levels below 25,000 per microliter. No patient had platelet counts below 50,000 per microliter after enhanced platelet-monitoring began. Volanesorsen lowered triglyceride levels to less than 750 mg per deciliter in 77% of patients with familial chylomicronemia syndrome. Thrombocytopenia and injection-site reactions were common adverse events. (Funded by Ionis Pharmaceuticals and Akcea Therapeutics; APPROACH Clinical Trials.gov number, NCT02211209.). Show less