title: Lipid-lowering therapy. New and established agents reduce risk of cardiovascular events.
abstract: Lipid therapy has come a long way in the past 20 years. In the late 1980s, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors ("statins") were introduced, and they have continued to demonstrate benefits in multiple large-scale primary and secondary prevention trials. A broader understanding of the effects of statin medications has led to new therapeutic goals for different patient populations. In this article, Dr Smith discusses recent developments in statin therapy as well as the introduction of a new class of drugs called selective cholesterol absorption inhibitors.
authors.affiliation: Section of Cardiology, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, Illinois, USA. rlitch2@hotmail.com
authors.forename: C Richard
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors