Similar trends were observed for changes in total cholesterol .
Implication sGiven the available data , the addition of ezetimibe to ongoing simvastatin , atorvastatin , or rosuvastatin monotherapy offers greater reduction in LDL-C among patients at high risk of CVD compared to doubling the initial statin dose
Purpose While statins are used as first-line treatments for high-risk patients with hypercholesterolemia , statin monotherapy is often insufficient to achieve target low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( LDL-C ) levels .
Second-line treatment options include up-titration of statin dose , switching to a more potent statin , or combination therapy , e.g. , with ezetimibe .
The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of adding ezetimibe to simvastatin , atorvastatin , or rosuvastatin monotherapy versus doubling the dosage or switching to a higher-potency statin in a population of patients with hypocholesterolemia at high risk of cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) and who had been previously treated with a statin .
Effects of Combined Ezetimibe and Simvastatin Therapy as Compared With Simvastatin Alone in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes
OBJECTIVE To assess the effects of inhibited gastrointestinal cholesterol absorption in statin-treated dyslipidemic patients . RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS In a multicenter prospect i ve r and omized double-blind placebo-controlled trial , we primarily compared by ANCOVA the effect of 2-month ezetimibe ( 10 mg/day ) or placebo therapy on LDL cholesterol serum levels in 108 type 2 diabetic patients with albuminuria < 200 μg/min and total cholesterol concentrations > 135 mg/dl despite simvastatin treatment ( 40 mg/day ) . RESULTS Unlike placebo , ezetimibe  decreased LDL cholesterol from 99 ± 31 to 66 ± 22 mg/dl , total cholesterol from 162 ± 36 to 124 ± 30 mg/dl , and apolipoprotein B from 83 ± 22 to 64 ± 18 mg/dl ( P < 0.0001 for all changes versus placebo ) . A total of 72 and 17 % of patients on ezetimibe or placebo  achieved LDL levels < 70 mg/dl , respectively ( P < 0.0001 ) . Treatment was well tolerated . CONCLUSIONS Adding ezetimibe to simvastatin therapy helps to improve the pro-atherogenic lipoprotein profile in type 2 diabetic patients who fail to reach recommended lipid targets with statin therapy alone
Similar trends were observed for changes in total cholesterol .
Implication sGiven the available data , the addition of ezetimibe to ongoing simvastatin , atorvastatin , or rosuvastatin monotherapy offers greater reduction in LDL-C among patients at high risk of CVD compared to doubling the initial statin dose
Purpose While statins are used as first-line treatments for high-risk patients with hypercholesterolemia , statin monotherapy is often insufficient to achieve target low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( LDL-C ) levels .
Second-line treatment options include up-titration of statin dose , switching to a more potent statin , or combination therapy , e.g. , with ezetimibe .
The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of adding ezetimibe to simvastatin , atorvastatin , or rosuvastatin monotherapy versus doubling the dosage or switching to a higher-potency statin in a population of patients with hypocholesterolemia at high risk of cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) and who had been previously treated with a statin .