title: Effects of extended-release niacin/laropiprant, simvastatin, and the combination on correlations between apolipoprotein B, LDL cholesterol, and non-HDL cholesterol in patients with dyslipidemia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Statins modify correlations between apolipoprotein B (apoB) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and apoB and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C); however, it is not known whether niacin-based therapies have similar effects.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of extended-release niacin (ERN)/laropiprant (LRPT), simvastatin (SIMVA), and ERN/LRPT + SIMVA (pooled ERN/LRPT + SIMVA) on apoB:LDL-C and apoB:non-HDL-C correlations in dyslipidemic patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This post-hoc analysis of a 12-week study evaluated the apoB:LDL-C and apoB:non-HDL-C correlations in dyslipidemic patients randomized equally to double-blind ERN/LRPT 1 g/20 mg, SIMVA 10, 20, or 40 mg, or ERN/LRPT 1 g/20 mg + SIMVA (10, 20, or 40 mg) once daily for 4 weeks. At week 5, doses were doubled in all groups except SIMVA 40 mg (unchanged) and ERN/LRPT 1 g/20 mg + SIMVA 40 mg (switched to ERN/LRPT 2 g/40 mg + SIMVA 40 mg). Simple linear regression analyses were used to calculate LDL-C and non-HDL-C levels corresponding to known apoB baseline values (ie, in untreated patients) and following treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The apoB:LDL-C and apoB:non-HDL-C correlations were higher and the predicted LDL-C and non-HDL-C levels for a known apoB value were considerably lower following treatment with ERN/LRPT, SIMVA and ERN/LRPT + SIMVA compared with untreated patients at baseline.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Greater dissociation of apoB, LDL-C, and non-HDL-C targets occur following treatment with ERN/LRPT, SIMVA, and ERN/LRPT + SIMVA in patients with dyslipidemia. The achievement of more aggressive LDL-C and non-HDL-C goals in patients receiving lipid-modifying therapy may further reduce coronary risk by normalizing apoB-containing atherogenic lipoproteins.
authors.affiliation: Point Médical, Dijon, France.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Farnier
authors.affiliation: Merck and Co, Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Erluo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Merck and Co, Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Amy O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Johnson-Levonas
authors.affiliation: Merck and Co, Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McCrary Sisk
authors.affiliation: Merck and Co, Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Yale B
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Mitchel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007211:Indoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016014:Linear Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D009525:Niacin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012307:Risk Factors; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D015415:Biomarkers; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004338:Drug Combinations; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D007211:Indoles; C518174:MK-0524; D009525:Niacin; D019821:Simvastatin
keywords: LDL-C; apoB; non-HDL-C