Conclusions Ezetimibe monotherapy ( 10 mg/day ) showed a small ( 7.06 % ) but statistically significant reduction in the plasma levels of Lp(a ) in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia .
According to current literature , this magnitude of reduction seems to have no clinical relevance .
Background and Aims Ezetimibe reduces plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( LDL-C ) levels by up to 20 % .
However , its effect on plasma lipoprotein(a ) [ Lp(a ) ] concentrations in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia has not been defined .
Objective Therefore , we performed a systematic review and meta- analysis to assess this effect based on the available r and omized controlled trials ( RCTs ) .
Efficacy and safety of ezetimibe coadministered with simvastatin in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE To compare the efficacy and safety of 10 mg of ezetimibe coadministered with simvastatin with the safety and efficacy of simvastatin monotherapy for patients with hypercholesterolemia . PATIENTS AND METHODS This multicenter double-blind , placebo-controlled , factorial study enrolled 887 patients with hypercholesterolemia ( low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [ LDL-C ] , 145 - 250 mg/dL ; triglycerides , < or = 350 mg/dL ) . Patients were r and omized to 1 of 10 treatments -- placebo , ezetimibe at 10 mg/d , simvastatin at 10 , 20 , 40 , or 80 mg/d , or simvastatin at 10 , 20 , 40 , or 80 mg/d plus ezetimibe at 10 mg/d for 12 weeks . The study began March 13 , 2001 , and ended January 8 , 2002 . The primary efficacy end point was the mean percent change in LDL-C levels from baseline to study end point ( last available postbaseline LDL-C measurement ) for the pooled ezetimibe/simvastatin group vs the pooled simvastatin monotherapy group . RESULTS Coadministration of ezetimibe/simvastatin was significantly ( P<.001 ) more effective than simvastatin alone in reducing LDL-C levels for the pooled ezetimibe/simvastatin vs pooled simvastatin analysis and at each specific dose comparison . The decrease in LDL-C levels with coadministration of ezetimibe and the lowest dose of simvastatin , 10 mg , was similar to the decrease with the maximum dose of simvastatin , 80 mg . A significantly ( P<.001 ) greater proportion of patients in the ezetimibe/simvastatin group achieved target LDL-C levels compared with those in the monotherapy group . Treatment with ezetimibe/simvastatin also led to greater reductions in total cholesterol , triglyceride , non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol , and apolipoprotein B levels compared with simvastatin alone ; both treatments increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels similarly . The safety and tolerability profiles for the ezetimibe/simvastatin and monotherapy groups were similar . CONCLUSION Through dual inhibition of cholesterol absorption and synthesis , coadministration of ezetimibe/simvastatin offers a highly efficacious and well-tolerated lipid-lowering strategy for treating patients with primary hypercholesterolemia
Conclusions Ezetimibe monotherapy ( 10 mg/day ) showed a small ( 7.06 % ) but statistically significant reduction in the plasma levels of Lp(a ) in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia .
According to current literature , this magnitude of reduction seems to have no clinical relevance .
Background and Aims Ezetimibe reduces plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( LDL-C ) levels by up to 20 % .
However , its effect on plasma lipoprotein(a ) [ Lp(a ) ] concentrations in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia has not been defined .
Objective Therefore , we performed a systematic review and meta- analysis to assess this effect based on the available r and omized controlled trials ( RCTs ) .