Severe Hypertriglyceridemia After Use of Bempedoic Acid

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Pharmacology
• Metabolic Diseases

Background:

• Bempedoic acid is an EMA-approved medication for hypercholesterolemia management since 2020.
• While effective for LDL reduction and cardiovascular outcomes, metabolic adverse events like hyperuricemia are documented.
• Limited data exists on bempedoic acid's effects in patients with pre-existing hypertriglyceridemia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a case of sudden hypertriglyceridemia following bempedoic acid initiation.
• To investigate a potential association between bempedoic acid and paradoxical hypertriglyceridemia.
• To emphasize the scarcity of evidence regarding bempedoic acid use in hypertriglyceridemic patients.

Main Methods:

• Case report of a 65-year-old woman.
• Introduction and subsequent withdrawal of bempedoic acid.
• Monitoring of triglyceride levels.

Main Results:

• The patient experienced a sudden worsening of hypertriglyceridemia after starting bempedoic acid.
• Triglyceride levels normalized rapidly upon discontinuation of the drug.
• This suggests a possible adverse effect of bempedoic acid on triglyceride metabolism.

Conclusions:

• Bempedoic acid can be associated with paradoxical hypertriglyceridemia, as seen in this case.
• Caution is advised when prescribing bempedoic acid to patients with pre-existing hypertriglyceridemia.
• Further research is needed to understand this potential adverse effect and guide clinical practice.