Romosozumab, a therapy used to treat osteoporosis, is a humanized monoclonal antibody that binds to and inhibits sclerostin, and previous research has focused on its potential elevated cardiac risk profile. In a meta-analysis and Mendelian randomization study published by Zheng et al in Arthritis & Rheumatology, researchers found that lowered levels of sclerostin may be linked to an increased risk of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, myocardial infarction, and extent of coronary artery calcification, and may also contribute to an atherogenic lipid profile. In the study, the authors identified genetic factors associated with lowered levels of sclerostin and measured their impact on these cardiovascular risk factors; they explained that “individuals genetically predisposed to lower circulating levels of sclerostin have an increased risk of cardiovascular events,” according to a press release on the study findings issued by the University of Bristol. The study authors concluded that their findings “underscore the requirement for strategies to mitigate potential adverse effects of romosozumab treatment on atherosclerosis and its related risk factors.”
May 25, 2023