The use of fibrates and of statins in preventing atherosclerosis in diabetes.
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is the most common complication of diabetes. Recent guidelines in the USA have underlined the importance of treating lipid abnormalities in people with diabetes in order to reduce the risk of this complication. Should lifestyle approaches not be sufficient drugs will need to be added. The two most common classes of drugs to correct lipoprotein abnormalities are the statins and the fibrates. Each has a role to play and their use depends on the nature of the lipid abnormality that is present. Thus, rather than considering their use as an 'either/or' situation, this review will consider the uses of each class. In addition, as correcting the lipoprotein abnormalities may not account for all of the benefit produced by these agents, their non-lipid, pleotropic effects that may be antiatherogenic will also be reviewed.
Steiner
G
G
University of Toronto and University Health Network, Toronto, Canada. george.steiner@uhn.on.ca
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D002994:Clofibrate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017035:Pravastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D019821:Simvastatin; D002994:Clofibrate; D017035:Pravastatin