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(Circulation. 2003;107:e9043.)
© 2003 American Heart Association, Inc.

Cardiovascular News

Ruth SoRelle, MPH

Circulation Newswriter

An extract of the first 250 words of the full text is provided, because this article has no abstract.

New Lipid-Lowering Combo Proves Successful

Combining ezetimibe and atorvastatin, two lipid-lowering drugs with different mechanisms of action, resulted in significant "incremental" reductions of low-density lipoprotein and triglycerides and increases in high-density lipoprotein, according to a report in this week’s issue of the journal Circulation (Circulation. 2003;107:2409–2415).

In this study led by Christie Ballantyne, MD, Professor of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, 628 patients with baseline low-density lipoprotein levels of 145 to 250 mg/dL and triglycerides above 350 mg/dL were randomized to receive one of the following: 10 mg of ezetimibe or atorvastatin at 10, 20, 40, or 80 mg per day; a combination of 10 mg ezetimibe plus atorvastatin at 10, 20, 40, or 80 mg per day; or a placebo. Treatment continued for 12 weeks.

View larger version (84K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Christie Ballantyne, MD

The researchers found that ezetimibe plus atorvastatin significantly lowered low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels compared with atorvastatin alone. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels increased significantly in patients who received the combination.

Administering ezetimibe with atorvastatin decreased LDL-C an additional 12%, triglycerides an additional 8%, and C-reactive protein an additional 10%. HDL-C increased 3% with the combination treatment.

The researchers concluded: "Ezetimibe plus atorvastatin was well tolerated, with a safety profile similar to atorvastatin alone and to placebo. When coadministered with atorvastatin, ezetimibe provided significant incremental reduction in LDL-C and triglycerides and increases in HDL-C. Coadministration of ezetimibe and atorvastatin offers a well-tolerated and highly efficacious new treatment option for patients with hypercholesterolemia."

"In clinical practice, ezetimibe coadministered . . . [Full Text of this Article]