New approaches to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. the potentialities of torcetrapib.
Atherosclerosis is the leading cause of death and disability in the developed world. Although the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol lowering drugs reduce the mortality and morbidity associated with coronary artery disease, considerable mortality and morbidity remains. Reverse cholesterol transport mediated by high-density lipoproteins (HDL) may provide an independent pathway for lipid removal from atheroma. The current NCEP ATPIII include HDL-cholesterol > or =1.6 mmol/l as a negative risk factor. Torcetrapib is an inhibitor of cholesteryl ester-transfer protein (CETP) that increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels. The drug increases HDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-I levels and decreases LDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein B levels. The effect is showed in monotherapy and when administered in combination with statins. In addition, torcetrapib did not significantly change the serum levels of cholesterol and triglycerides. The raising HDL-cholesterol with torcetrapib could be a new approach to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease although new trials based on hard clinical end points are necessary.
Pérez-Castrillon
Jose Luis
JL
Hospital Rio Hortega. University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain. castrv@terra.es
Dueñas-Laita
Antonio
A
D000818:Animals; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D053480:Cholesterol Ester Transfer Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism; D011804:Quinolines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D053480:Cholesterol Ester Transfer Proteins; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D011804:Quinolines; C483909:torcetrapib; D002784:Cholesterol