title: Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol: how low can we go?
abstract: Elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is an established cause of cardiovascular disease and subsequent adverse events. The efficacy and safety of lowering plasma LDL-C to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) and secondary event rates are now well established. What has not been established, however, is a plasma LDL-C lower threshold level of safety and efficacy. Here we review intensive plasma LDL-C-lowering with statins and argue that even further reductions of plasma LDL-C than current guideline targets is likely to safely reduce cardiovascular event rates. We discuss how to achieve very low levels of plasma LDL-C using both traditional and novel LDL-lowering therapies.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Sherbet
authors.forename: Puja
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Garg
authors.forename: Emmanouil S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Brilakis
authors.forename: Subhash
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Banerjee
mesh_terms: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors