Conclusions Study -level data from this systemic review establish that different lipid lowering agents can lead to discordance between LDL-P and LDL-C , therefore , basing LDL-lowering therapy only on the achievement of cholesterol goals may result in a treatment gap .
Therefore , the use of LDL-P for monitoring lipid-lowering therapy , particularly for statins , can provide a more accurate assessment of residual cardiovascular risk
Purpose This systematic review was performed to summarize published experience using low density lipoprotein particle number ( LDL-P ) to monitor the efficacy of  lipid-lowering pharmacotherapies .
Extended-release niacin/laropiprant effects on lipoprotein subfractions in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
BACKGROUND A potentially atherogenic lipid profile often found in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus ( T2DM ) includes increased concentrations of small , low-density lipoprotein ( LDL ) and intermediate-density lipoprotein ( IDL ) and decreased concentration of medium/large high-density lipoprotein ( HDL ) particles . Extended-release niacin/laropiprant ( ERN/LRPT ) lowers LDL-cholesterol ( LDL-C ) and triglycerides ( TG ) , and raises HDL cholesterol ( HDL-C ) levels with attenuation of niacin-induced flushing . METHODS Plasma HDL , LDL , IDL , very-low-density lipoprotein ( VLDL ) , and chylomicron particle concentration and size at were evaluated at baseline and week 12 using nuclear magnetic resonance ( NMR ) . The data were acquired from a r and omized , multicenter , double-blind , placebo-controlled study including 796 patients with T2DM treated with either 1 tablet of ERN 1 gram/LRPT 20 mg or matching placebo  daily , increased after 4 weeks to 2 tablets daily . RESULTS ERN/LRPT significantly ( P≤0.001 for all ) reduced LDL-C 17.9 % and TG 23.1 % , and increased HDL-C levels 23.2 % . Compared to placebo , ERN/LRPT decreased LDL , IDL , VLDL , and chylomicron particle concentrations [ median concentration of smallest LDL particles decreased 16.6 % , 95 % confidence interval ( CI ) -22.3 , -10.9 , whereas the largest LDL particles decreased 11.0 % , 95 % CI -18.7 , -3.2 , and total VLDL/chylomicron mean plasma particle concentration decreased 34.7 % , 95 % CI -41.3 , -28.1 ] . Compared to placebo , ERN/LRPT shifted the distribution of HDL particle diameter from smaller to larger ( median concentration of the largest HDL particles increased 32.7 % ( 95 % CI 25.30 , 40.58 ) , whereas concentration of the smallest HDL particles decreased 8.2 % ( 95 % CI -11.29 , -5.06 ) . CONCLUSIONS Compared with placebo in patients with T2DM , ERN/LRPT shifted the lipoprotein profile toward a potentially less atherogenic pattern with reduced atherogenic LDL and IDL particle concentrations , and increased large HDL plasma particle concentrations . ( Clinical Trials.gov : NCT00485758 )
Conclusions Study -level data from this systemic review establish that different lipid lowering agents can lead to discordance between LDL-P and LDL-C , therefore , basing LDL-lowering therapy only on the achievement of cholesterol goals may result in a treatment gap .
Therefore , the use of LDL-P for monitoring lipid-lowering therapy , particularly for statins , can provide a more accurate assessment of residual cardiovascular risk
Purpose This systematic review was performed to summarize published experience using low density lipoprotein particle number ( LDL-P ) to monitor the efficacy of  lipid-lowering pharmacotherapies .