Selective cholesterol absorption inhibition: a novel strategy in lipid-lowering management.
Many individuals throughout Europe have risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD) and are non-compliant with recommended treatments, despite guidelines for the reduction of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and the prevention of CHD. Significant numbers who should receive pharmacotherapy for hypercholesterolaemia do not, and one-third of treated patients do not achieve recommended target LDL-C levels. Optimum doses of statins, which have demonstrated undisputed efficacy in the treatment of hypercholesterolaemia in clinical trials, are seldom used; the inconvenience of dosage adjustments and safety concerns, particularly myalgia, may constitute obstacles to their optimal use for LDL-C reduction in clinical practice. Ezetimibe is the first selective cholesterol absorption inhibitor that has demonstrated clinical benefits when used as either monotherapy or in combination with other lipid-modifying agents.
Leitersdorf
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Centre for Research, Prevention, and Treatment of Atherosclerosis, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001384:Azetidines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000378:metabolism*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005060:Europe; D000069438:Ezetimibe; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000517:prevention & control; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D001384:Azetidines; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D000069438:Ezetimibe