Combine lipid lowering therapy with ezetimibe and statin – what we know in year 2009? Review article

Abstract

Clinical trials have demonstrated the benefit of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol reduction in reducing the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Therefore, lowering the LDL cholesterol levels is the primary aim of lipid therapy, and international guidelines specify target concentrations of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Although the statins are the very effective lipid-lowering drugs, a wide therapeutic gap exists between targets LDL-C levels and LDL-C levels typically achieved in actual clinical practice. Co-administration of statins and cholesterol absorption inhibitor (ezetimibe) is an important and promising method of improving outcomes. By co-administering ezetimibe together with any dose of any statin, we can expect superior LDL-C-lowering efficacy and a substantially greater proportion of patients achieving or getting below LDL-C treatment goals. Ezetimibe/statin offers a well-tolerated, lipid-altering therapy for patients with hyperlipidemia. Two big clinical trials are underway and should provide further evidence for the benefit of such a combination therapy of dyslipidemia.