title: Effects of ezetimibe on remnant-like particle cholesterol, lipoprotein (a), and oxidized low-density lipoprotein in patients with dyslipidemia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ezetimibe is a novel cholesterol absorption inhibitor that reduces the level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol (C). The effects of ezetimibe on remnant-like particle (RLP)-C, lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)], and oxidized LDL (Ox-LDL) levels have not been examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty patients with dyslipidemia were treated with 10 mg/day of ezetimibe. At baseline and 12 weeks after treatment with ezetimibe, we measured the levels of RLP-C, Lp(a), Ox-LDL, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean levels of total cholesterol (TC), LDL-C, triglycerides (TG), and apolipoprotein (apo) B, respectively, showed a significant decrease from 229+/-39 to 191+/-37 mg/dL (-16%, p<0.0001), from 151+/-34 to 118+/-33 mg/dL (-22%, p<0.0001), from 162+/-82 to 135+/-55 mg/dL (-7%, p<0.01), and from 116+/-22 to 94+/-21 mg/dL (-18%, p<0.0001) after 12 weeks of treat-ment with ezetimibe. The mean level of RLP-C and median level of hs-CRP also decreased signifi-cantly from 6.8+/-4.0 to 4.8+/-2.5 mg/dL (-21%, p<0.0001) and from 0.6 to 0.4 mg/L (-33%, p<0.05). The median level of Lp(a) decreased significantly from 14 to 10 mg/dL (-29%, p<0.05) in patients treated with ezetimibe monotherapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ezetimibe was effective for reducing the levels of TC, LDL-C, TG, and RLP-C. Ezeti-mibe could be a potential therapeutic option for decreasing the Lp(a) level.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yokohama Sakae Kyosai Hospital, Federation of National Public Service Personnel Mutual Associations, Yokohama 247-8581, Japan. nozue2493@yahoo.co.jp
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nozue
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Michishita
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mizuguchi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001384:Azetidines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000069438:Ezetimibe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017270:Lipoprotein(a) / Q000097:blood*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D001384:Azetidines; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D017270:Lipoprotein(a); D008074:Lipoproteins; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein; C112017:remnant-like particle cholesterol; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002784:Cholesterol; D000069438:Ezetimibe