title: Cholestanol: a serum marker to guide LDL cholesterol-lowering therapy.
abstract: Statins have been the mainstay of lipid-lowering therapy since their introduction. However, as lower LDL cholesterol targets are sought, adjunct therapies are becoming increasingly important. Few patients reach new targets with statin monotherapy. We propose that the cholestanol:cholesterol ratio can be used to guide lipid-lowering therapy and result in greater numbers of patients reaching target LDL cholesterol. By determining whether a patient is mainly a synthesizer or absorber of cholesterol, customized regimens can be used and are expected to improve patient outcomes and minimize costs of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Level 5 Pigeon Holes, Herton Road, Herston, Brisbane, Qld 4029, Australia. ebalk@tufts-nemc.org
authors.forename: Michel R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Hoenig
authors.forename: Barbara E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Rolfe
authors.forename: Julie H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Campbell
mesh_terms: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004083:Cholestanol / Q000097:blood*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood* / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D004083:Cholestanol