title: The importance of lipid evaluation and management in the prevention and treatment of acute myocardial infarction.
abstract: There is an obvious need to measure low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in all patients with acute myocardial infarction and coronary artery disease. The recent guidelines of the National Cholesterol Education Program have established the desired level for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol for such patients at <100 mg/dL. However, several studies have demonstrated a lack of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol measurement and lipid-lowering therapy with statins in patients with acute myocardial infarction and coronary artery disease. These findings point to a need for quality of care improvement efforts to foster both lipid measurement and statin use in such patients. Many studies have demonstrated the numerous beneficial effects of statin use. In addition to lipid lowering, these include plaque stability and ant platelet, ant macrophage, and antiatherothrombotic activities as well as enhanced endothelial activity. As a class of drugs, the statins have been shown to offer significant benefits with little in the way of associated risks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, State University of New York, Health Science Center at Brooklyn, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Monte
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Malach
authors.forename: Pascal James
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Imperato
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy*; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods*; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D002784:Cholesterol