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. 2007;3(1):12.
doi: 10.4081/hi.2007.12. Epub 2007 Jun 15.

The combination of Ezetimibe and Statin: a new treatment for hypercholesterolemia

Savina Nodari  1 , Patrizia Rocca, Alberto Saporetti, Luca Bettari, Anna Lucia Foresti, Elena Tanghetti, Marco Metra, Livio Dei Cas
Affiliations

The combination of Ezetimibe and Statin: a new treatment for hypercholesterolemia

Savina Nodari et al. Heart Int. 2007.

Abstract

The combination of Simvastatin and Ezetimibe allows dual inhibition of both cholesterol production and absorption. This treatment approach allows achieving same low serum cholesterol levels with the administration of much lower doses of statins. This should reduce side effects, compared to statin only therapy, enabling more patients to achieve their LDL cholesterol treatment goals. With ezetimibe/simvastatin therapy, reductions of about 60% from baseline in LDL cholesterol have been shown. Concomitant improvement in other lipid fractions have also been demonstrated. The ezetimibe/simvastatin combination has been well tolerated, with a safety profile similar to that of statin therapy. This article will review clinical experience with ezetimibe/simvastatin combination, commenting upon its place and potential value in the prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Keywords: Ezetimibe; Hypercholesterolemia; Statins.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
- Results of the NEPTUNE (National Cholesterol Education (NCEP) Program Evaluation ProjecT Utilizing Novel E-Technology) II survey: hypolipemic treatment does not reach the LDL cholesterol target levels fixed by ATP-III (1).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
- EUROASPIRE II: in Europe only 51% of patients undergoing hypocholesterolemic therapy attain the cholesterol target (<5 mmol/l; <190 mg/dl) (2).
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
- Effect of therapy with statins on LDL cholesterol levels: the “rule of six” (see text for details).
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
- Statins: method of action (see text for details).
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
- Cholesterol intake inhibition mediated by ezetimibe.
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
- Results from EASE (ezetimibe add-on to statin for effectiveness) study (12).
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
- Results from the EASE study (ezetimibe add-on to statin for effectiveness) (12): effects of the association of ezetimide + statin on the lipidic profile.
Fig. 8
Fig. 8
- Variation of LDL cholesterol in the different populations studied (15).
Fig. 9
Fig. 9
- Ezetimibe + simvastatin: higher reduction of LDL cholesterol vs. atorvastatin in all treatment periods (16).
Fig. 10
Fig. 10
- Ezetimibe + simvastatina: HDL cholesterol increase vs. atorvastatin in all treatment periods (16).
Fig. 11
Fig. 11
- Ezetimibe + simvastatin: triglyceride reduction similar as with atorvastatin (16).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. EUROASPIRE II Study Group. Lifestyle and risk factor management and use of drug therapies in coronary patients from 15 countries. Eur Heart J. 2001;22:554–72. - PubMed
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