In randomized clinical trials (RCTs) proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors showed a favorable safety profile, however, "real-world" data on adverse events (AEs) is scarce. Three datasets, a hospital registry (n = 164), and two Pharmacovigilance databases, Lareb (n = 149) and VigiLyze (n = 15,554), reporting AEs attributed to PCSK9 inhibitors (alirocumab or evolocumab) prescribed in clinical practice were analyzed. In the hospital registry, 41.5% of the patients reported any AE, most often injection-site reactions (33.8%) and influenza-like illness (27.9%). Twelve patients (7%) discontinued PCSK9 inhibitor treatment. Most common AE reported in the Lareb and VigiLyze database was myalgia (12.8% and 8.3%, respectively). No clinically relevant differences in gender or between drugs were observed. No specific subgroup of patients could be identified at risk of developing AEs. During follow-up, AEs resolved in most patients (71.1%). In a real-world setting, PCSK9 inhibitors are well tolerated with an overall safety profile comparable to RCTs.

Background Sex differences in efficacy and safety of dual antiplatelet therapy remain uncertain because of the underrepresentation of women in cardiovascular trials. The aim of this study was to perform a sex‐specific analysis of the pooled efficacy and safety data of clinical trials comparing a high potent P2Y 12 inhibitor+aspirin with clopidogrel+aspirin in patients with acute coronary syndrome. Methods and Results A systematic literature search was performed. Randomized clinical trials that compared patients following percutaneous coronary intervention/acute coronary syndrome who were taking high potent P2Y 12 inhibitors+aspirin versus clopidogrel+aspirin were selected. Random effects estimates were calculated and relative risks with 95% CIs on efficacy and safety end points were determined per sex. We included 6 randomized clinical trials comparing prasugrel/ticagrelor versus clopidogrel in 43 990 patients (13 030 women), with a median follow‐up time of 1.06 years. Women and men had similar relative risk (RR) reduction for major cardiovascular events (women: RR , 0.89 [95% CI , 0.80–1.00; men: RR , 0.84 [95% CI , 0.79–0.91) ( P for interaction=0.39). Regarding safety, women and men had similar risk of major bleeding by high‐potency dual antiplatelet therapy ( RR , 1.18 [95% CI , 0.98–1.41] versus RR , 1.03 [95% CI , 0.93–1.14]) ( P for interaction=0.20). Conclusions The small and statistically insignificant difference in efficacy and safety estimates of high‐potency dual antiplatelet therapy between women and men following percutaneous coronary intervention/acute coronary syndrome do not justify differential dual antiplatelet therapy treatment for both sexes.

Background: We aimed to assess differences in clinical characteristics, prognosis, and the temporal evolution of circulating biomarkers in male and female patients with HFrEF. Methods: We included 250 patients (66 women) with chronic heart failure (CHF) between 2011 and 2013 and performed trimonthly blood sampling during a median follow-up of 2.2 years [median (IQR) of 8 (5-10) urine and 9 (5-10) plasma samples per patient]. After completion of follow-up we measured 8 biomarkers. The primary endpoint (PE) was the composite of cardiac death, cardiac transplantation, left ventricular assist device implantation, and hospitalization due to acute or worsened CHF. Joint models were used to determine whether there were differences in the temporal patterns of the biomarkers between men and women as the PE approached. Results: A total of 66 patients reached the PE of which 52 (78.8%) were male and 14 (21.2%) were female. The temporal patterns of all studied biomarkers were associated with the PE, and overall showed disadvantageous changes as the PE approached. For NT-proBNP, HsTnT, and CRP, women showed higher levels over the entire follow-up duration and concomitant numerically higher hazard ratios [NT-proBNP: women: HR(95%CI) 7.57 (3.17-21.93), men: HR(95%CI) 3.14 (2.09-4.79), p for interaction = 0.104, HsTnT: women: HR(95%CI) 6.38 (2.18-22.46), men: HR(95%CI) 4.91 (2.58-9.39), p for interaction = 0.704, CRP: women: HR(95%CI) 7.48 (3.43-19.53), men: HR(95%CI) 3.29 [2.27-5.44], p for interaction = 0.106). In contrast, temporal patterns of glomerular and tubular renal markers showed similar associations with the PE in men and women. Conclusion: Although interaction terms are not statistically significant, the associations of temporal patterns of NT-proBNP, HsTnT, and CRP appear more outspoken in women than in men with HFrEF, whereas associations seem similar for temporal patterns of creatinine, eGFR, Cystatin C, KIM-1 and NAG. Larger studies are needed to confirm these potential sex differences.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a rare cause of myocardial infarction, presenting mostly in healthy, young women. The pathogenesis is still poorly understood. A 45-year-old woman presented with an ST-elevation myocardial infarction, caused by SCAD of the mid left anterior descending coronary artery. In the six years prior to this event, she frequently experienced chest pain coinciding with her menstruation.