Vol 14, No 3 (2007)
Review Article
Submitted: 2013-01-14
Published online: 2007-03-30
Ezetimibe: New perspectives in lipid lowering treatment
Piotr Jankowski, Magdalena Loster, Kalina Kawecka-Jaszcz
DOI: 10.5603/cj.21699
·
Cardiol J 2007;14(3):232-237.
Vol 14, No 3 (2007)
Review articles
Submitted: 2013-01-14
Published online: 2007-03-30
Abstract
Therapeutic goals for lipid lowering treatment in the prevention of ischemic heart disease are
often not reached in clinical practice. Even the highest doses of statins do not guarantee good
control of hypercholesterolemia in all patients. Therefore, new lipid lowering drugs are being
investigated. One of them is ezetimibe - intestinal cholesterol absorption inhibitor. Treatment
with ezetimibe results in significant reduction of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels.
It is hoped that concomitant treatment with ezetimibe and other lipid lowering drugs (particularly
statins) will be more effective. In large randomized clinical trials, co-administration of
ezetimibe with atorvastatin and simvastatin proved to be more effective in lowering cholesterol
levels and reaching target therapeutic levels than treatment with statin alone. In addition,
combined treatment with ezetimibe and simvastatin was more effective compared to treatment
with today’s most effectively used statin (rosuvastatin) alone. Reduction of statin dose, due to
the combined treatment with ezetimibe, lowers the risk of adverse events. Results of the published
studies suggest that ezetimibe is safe and when administered together with statin does
not increase the risk of liver or muscle damage. Treatment with ezetimibe may be regarded as
a new option in the management of patients who need lipid lowering treatment. (Cardiol J
2007; 14: 232-237)
Abstract
Therapeutic goals for lipid lowering treatment in the prevention of ischemic heart disease are
often not reached in clinical practice. Even the highest doses of statins do not guarantee good
control of hypercholesterolemia in all patients. Therefore, new lipid lowering drugs are being
investigated. One of them is ezetimibe - intestinal cholesterol absorption inhibitor. Treatment
with ezetimibe results in significant reduction of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels.
It is hoped that concomitant treatment with ezetimibe and other lipid lowering drugs (particularly
statins) will be more effective. In large randomized clinical trials, co-administration of
ezetimibe with atorvastatin and simvastatin proved to be more effective in lowering cholesterol
levels and reaching target therapeutic levels than treatment with statin alone. In addition,
combined treatment with ezetimibe and simvastatin was more effective compared to treatment
with today’s most effectively used statin (rosuvastatin) alone. Reduction of statin dose, due to
the combined treatment with ezetimibe, lowers the risk of adverse events. Results of the published
studies suggest that ezetimibe is safe and when administered together with statin does
not increase the risk of liver or muscle damage. Treatment with ezetimibe may be regarded as
a new option in the management of patients who need lipid lowering treatment. (Cardiol J
2007; 14: 232-237)
Keywords
lipid-lowering drugs; hypercholesterolemia; cardiovascular risk; prevention
Title
Ezetimibe: New perspectives in lipid lowering treatment
Journal
Cardiology Journal
Issue
Vol 14, No 3 (2007)
Article type
Review Article
Pages
232-237
Published online
2007-03-30
Page views
554
Article views/downloads
1338
DOI
10.5603/cj.21699
Bibliographic record
Cardiol J 2007;14(3):232-237.
Keywords
lipid-lowering drugs
hypercholesterolemia
cardiovascular risk
prevention
Authors
Piotr Jankowski
Magdalena Loster
Kalina Kawecka-Jaszcz
About this article