Optimal goals for statin use in patients with coronary artery disease.
OBJECTIVE
Coronary artery disease is the largest cause of premature death in the Western world. Lipid-lowering therapy with statins has revolutionized the management of this condition over the past decade.


BACKGROUND
Successive clinical trials have lowered the treatment bar for statin therapy in patients with coronary artery disease. In addition to traditional markers of efficacy such as low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, emerging targets such as C-reactive protein are becoming recognized as important therapeutic goals.


CONCLUSIONS
This review focuses on the important contributions to the literature during the past year and provides an expert opinion of the therapeutic goals for statin therapy.
Ray
Kausik K
KK
Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. kkray@partners.org
Cannon
Christopher P
CP
D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000187:drug effects; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000187:drug effects; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017035:Pravastatin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D008148:Lovastatin; D017035:Pravastatin