Adding Evolocumab to Conventional Lipid-lowering Therapy for Hypertriglyceridemia Induced Acute Pancreatitis

Summary

The severity of hypertriglyceridemia induced acute pancreatitis (HTG-AP) is closely related to the serum triglyceride (TG) levels. The higher the TG levels, the greater the risk of developing severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). Previous expert consensus has pointed out that the key to treating HTG-AP is to rapidly lower serum TG levels to below 5.65 mmol/L. Evolocumab is a proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor, which is often used to treat familial hypercholesterolemia, mixed dyslipidemia and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. At the same time, evolocumab also has the effect of reducing TG and may provide a feasible option for the management of HTG-AP. However, its efficacy and safety in reducing TG in patients with HTG-AP remain controversial. This study is a multicenter randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of adding evolocumab to conventional lipid-lowering therapy in patients with HTG-AP.

Timeline

Start

2026-01-02

Primary completion

2026-12-31

Completion

2026-12-31

Publications

• Background Zengwu Wang, Jing Liu, Jianjun Li, et al. Chinese Guidelines for Lipid Management (2023). Chinese Journal of Circulation. 2023; 38 (03) : 237-271.
• Background Wu BU, Johannes RS, Sun X, Tabak Y, Conwell DL, Banks PA. The early prediction of mortality in acute pancreatitis: a large population-based study. Gut. 2008 Dec;57(12):1698-703. doi: 10.1136/gut.2008.152702. Epub 2008 Jun 2.
• Background Ong Y, Shelat VG. Ranson score to stratify severity in Acute Pancreatitis remains valid - Old is gold. Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2021 Aug;15(8):865-877. doi: 10.1080/17474124.2021.1924058. Epub 2021 May 13.
• Background Banks PA, Bollen TL, Dervenis C, Gooszen HG, Johnson CD, Sarr MG, Tsiotos GG, Vege SS; Acute Pancreatitis Classification Working Group. Classification of acute pancreatitis--2012: revision of the Atlanta classification and definitions by international consensus. Gut. 2013 Jan;62(1):102-11. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2012-302779. Epub 2012 Oct 25.
• Background Qi R, Liu H, Li X, Chen M. Successful use of Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9 Inhibitors in Hypertriglyceridemia-induced Acute Pancreatitis: A Case Report. Curr Cardiol Rev. 2025;21(3):e1573403X343784. doi: 10.2174/011573403X343784241115055037.
• Background Chen H, Li X, Chen J, Zhao Y, Zhang W, Li H, Qi X. Lipid-lowering effect of evolocumab in hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis. Eur J Pharmacol. 2025 Nov 5;1006:178148. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2025.178148. Epub 2025 Sep 16.
• Background Lu W, Wang L, Du C, Qin L, Li J, Wang H. PCSK9 Inhibitors in Multi-Branch Lesions in Coronary Artery Disease with Substandard Lipid-Lowering Effects. Altern Ther Health Med. 2024 Aug;30(8):356-360.
• Background Raal FJ, Stein EA, Dufour R, Turner T, Civeira F, Burgess L, Langslet G, Scott R, Olsson AG, Sullivan D, Hovingh GK, Cariou B, Gouni-Berthold I, Somaratne R, Bridges I, Scott R, Wasserman SM, Gaudet D; RUTHERFORD-2 Investigators. PCSK9 inhibition with evolocumab (AMG 145) in heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (RUTHERFORD-2): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet. 2015 Jan 24;385(9965):331-40. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(14)61399-4. Epub 2014 Oct 1.
• Background Blom DJ, Hala T, Bolognese M, Lillestol MJ, Toth PD, Burgess L, Ceska R, Roth E, Koren MJ, Ballantyne CM, Monsalvo ML, Tsirtsonis K, Kim JB, Scott R, Wasserman SM, Stein EA; DESCARTES Investigators. A 52-week placebo-controlled trial of evolocumab in hyperlipidemia. N Engl J Med. 2014 May 8;370(19):1809-19. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1316222. Epub 2014 Mar 29.
• Background Tan H, Li W, Huang Z, Han Y, Huang X, Li D, Xing X, Monsalvo ML, Wu Y, Mao J, Xin L, Chen J; HUA TUO study investigators. Efficacy and Safety of Evolocumab in Chinese Patients with Primary Hypercholesterolemia and Mixed Dyslipidemia: 12-Week Primary Results of the HUA TUO Randomized Clinical Trial. Cardiol Ther. 2023 Jun;12(2):341-359. doi: 10.1007/s40119-023-00304-x. Epub 2023 Feb 21.
• Background Wiggins BS, Senfield J, Kassahun H, Lira A, Somaratne R. Evolocumab: Considerations for the Management of Hyperlipidemia. Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2018 Mar 6;20(4):17. doi: 10.1007/s11883-018-0720-3.
• Background Lu Z, Zhang G, Guo F, Li M, Ding Y, Zheng H, Wang D. Elevated triglycerides on admission positively correlate with the severity of hypertriglyceridaemic pancreatitis. Int J Clin Pract. 2020 Mar;74(3):e13458. doi: 10.1111/ijcp.13458. Epub 2019 Dec 14.
• Background Xin Hong, Liming Wang, Zhengliang Zhang, et al. Emergency Expert Consensus on Diagnosis and Treatment of Hypertriglyceridemia Induced Acute Pancreatitis [J]. Chinese General Practice, 2021, 24(30): 3781-93
• Background Na Zhang, Haiyan Zhang, Xiaohong Guo, et al. Meta-analysis of etiological changes of acute pancreatitis in China in the past Decade [J]. Chinese Journal of Gastroenterology and Imaging (Electronic Edition), 2016, 6(02): 71-5
• Background Pancreatic Surgery Group, Surgical Branch of the Chinese Medical Association Chinese Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute Pancreatitis (2021) [J]. Chinese Journal of Digestive Surgery, 2021, 20(07): 730-9.

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