title: Coronary event secondary prevention with statins irrespective of LDL-cholesterol.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the evidence for statin secondary prevention of coronary artery disease in patients with near-optimal or optimal low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C).
  
  
  METHODS
  A MEDLINE search (1966-October 2003) was conducted using the search terms HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, statins, coronary disease, post-myocardial infarction, and average cholesterol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Secondary prevention trials enrolling subjects with near-optimal (<130 mg/dL) or optimal (<100 mg/dL) baseline LDL-C were included. Early statin secondary prevention studies suggested attenuated benefit, but more recent trials challenge this finding.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Statin secondary prevention of coronary artery disease in patients near goal LDL-C is controversial, but recent trial results show promise.
authors.affiliation: The Medical Center of Aurora, 1501 S. Potomac Street, Aurora, CO 80012-5411, USA. leslie.kerst@HealthONEcares.com
authors.forename: Leslie L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Kerst
authors.forename: Vincent F
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: Mauro
mesh_terms: D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
chemical_list: D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors