Ezetimibe plus simvastatin cardiovascular outcomes study program

Abstract

Ezetimibe is a drug that impairs intestinal cholesterol absorption and decreases blood cholesterol levels. It has been shown that added to statins it can achieve a further reduction of low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol of 18–20%, overcoming the increase in absorption that follow the reduction in cholesterol synthesis by statins. Four major outcome trials are underway to study the effect of ezetimibe plus simvastatin in different subsets of high-risk patients: familiar hypercholesterolemia, degenerative aortic stenosis, chronic kidney disease and acute coronary syndrome. Hopefully, in the next few years the information provided by these trials will allow us to further reduce the increasing burden of cardiovascular disease.

Keywords::

• atherosclerosis
• cardiovascular disease
• ezetimibe
• lipid-lowering therapy
• statin

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This review has been supported by MSD-Schering Plough giving medical writing support (Celer). Padial has financial involvement (consultancy, speaker honoraria) with these companies. The author has no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.