Safety and efficacy of ezetimibe in a sample of cardiac transplant patients.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the safety and efficacy of ezetimibe in a sample of transplanted cardiac patients.


METHODS
We undertook a descriptive retrospective observational study of 19 transplanted cardiac patients in whom treatment with ezetimibe was initiated at doses of 10 mg/d between 2004 and 2006, assessing tolerability and changes in lipid levels (total cholesterol and triglycerides), doses of immunosuppressive drugs, and the hepatic profile after 12 months of treatment.


RESULTS
There was no effect on the doses required of any immunosuppressive drugs. We observed a reduction in cholesterol levels, with a normal distribution (mean +/- standard deviation 26.84 +/- 14 mg/dL) among patients with ezetimibe addition, despite no change in the statin doses. There were no changes in the levels of triglycerides, transaminases, or bilirubin, and no cases of rhabdomyolysis or myalgia. All patients continued to take the drug after 1 year of treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
In our sample, the administration of ezetimibe to transplanted cardiac patients for 1 year was associated with a reduction in cholesterol levels by 26.8%. No substantial changes in the doses of immunosuppressive drugs could be attributed to the use of ezetimibe. Tolerance was good, with no need for drug withdrawal in any case.
Guisado Rasco
A
A
Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery Departments, Virgen del Rocio University Hospital, Seville, Spain. aguiras@hotmail.com
Lage Gallé
E
E
Sobrino Márquez
J M
JM
Sánchez Brotons
J A
JA
Mogollón Jiménez
M V
MV
Borrego Domínguez
J M
JM
Martínez Martínez
A
A
D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001384:Azetidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000453:epidemiology; D000069438:Ezetimibe; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012449:Safety; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D001384:Azetidines; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000069438:Ezetimibe; D001663:Bilirubin