title: Emerging options in the treatment of dyslipidemias: a bright future?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hypercholesterolemia is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) reduction has been demonstrated to decrease CVD-related morbidity and mortality. However, several patients do not reach LDL-C target levels with the currently available lipid lowering agents, particularly statins. Lipid and non-lipid parameters other than LDL-C may account for the residual CVD risk after adequate LDL-C lowering with statins.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review focuses on the efficacy and safety of emerging drugs aiming at high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) elevation (i.e., recombinant or plasma-derived wild-type apolipoprotein (apo) A-I, apo A-I mimetic peptides, reconstituted mutant HDL, partially delipidated HDL and cholesterol ester transfer protein inhibitors), microsomal triglyceride transfer protein inhibitors and antisense oligonucleotides.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Several lipid modifying agents in development may potently reduce the residual CVD risk. Ongoing and future studies with clinical outcomes will clarify their efficacy in clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: University of Ioannina, School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Ioannina 45110, Greece.
authors.forename: Matilda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Florentin
authors.forename: Evangelos N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Liberopoulos
authors.forename: Dimitri P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Mikhailidis
authors.forename: Moses S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Elisaf
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL