FERCH Moritz

Previous University and Subject: Medical University Vienna / Human Medicine

Thesis since: 10/2020

Strategies for Improving Cardiometabolic Risk Stratification, Diagnostic Yield, and Therapeutic Care for Patients with Dyslipidemia

Registry:
Dyslipidemia Registry and Biobank (IMPROVE-LIP): The implementation of a registry and biobank study serves as foundation of the following basic science study and future clinical studies.

Basic Science:
Lp(a)-Stratification: The first study aims at improved cardiometabolic risk stratification of patients with elevated lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) levels via the identification and application of novel biomarkers. With our dyslipidemia registry facilitating the provision of samples, analyses on oxidized phospholipids (oxPL), ceramides, and high-sensitivity c-reactive protein (hs-CRP) will be performed in hyperlipoproteinemia(a) cohorts with and without established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).

Clinical Science:
FH-Dx: The second study investigates the prevalence of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and our clinic’s diagnostic performance in an underdiagnosed cause of dyslipidemia encountered in the outpatient clinic setting. This is achieved by examining the prevalence of genetically confirmed FH among all patients subject to molecular genetic testing due to suspected FH at our outpatient clinic, analyzing the current yield of routine molecular genetic diagnostics for FH and the spectrum of mutations in an Austrian specialist lipid clinic in Vienna.  
PCSK9-I-Tx: The third study aims to examine therapeutic care and prognosis of patients in our outpatient clinic under novel antilipemic therapies in clinical routine use. This is done via the investigation of cardiovascular (CV) outcomes and adherence to therapy and recommended follow-up examinations in patients receiving PCSK9 (Proprotein Convertase Subtilisine/Kexine type 9) inhibitor therapy (PCSK9-I-Tx). The primary objective of the study on hand is to determine the percentage of patients reaching target low-density-lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels according to ESC guidelines after 1 year of therapy.

Methods and Skills:

Clinical science