CONCLUSIONS The results suggested that ezetimibe add-on to statin therapy is associated with an enhanced TNF-α-lowering effect  compared with statin monotherapy .
AIMS Statins are known to influence the status of adipokines , which play a key role in the pathophysiology of cardiometabolic diseases .
As the effect of ezetimibe as an add-on to statin therapy on the impact of statins on plasma adipokines levels is currently unclear , the aim of the present study was to investigate this through a meta- analysis of controlled trials .
Impact of Dual Lipid-Lowering Strategy With Ezetimibe and Atorvastatin on Coronary Plaque Regression in Patients With Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: The Multicenter Randomized Controlled PRECISE-IVUS Trial.
BACKGROUND Despite st and ard statin therapy , a majority of patients retain a high " residual risk " of cardiovascular events . OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of ezetimibe plus atorvastatin versus atorvastatin monotherapy on the lipid profile and coronary atherosclerosis in Japanese patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention ( PCI ) . METHODS This trial was a prospect i ve , r and omized , controlled , multicenter study . Eligible patients who underwent PCI were r and omly assigned to atorvastatin alone or atorvastatin plus ezetimibe ( 10 mg ) daily . Atorvastatin was uptitrated with a treatment goal of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( LDL-C ) < 70 mg/dl . Serial volumetric intravascular ultrasound was performed at baseline and again at 9 to 12 months to quantify the coronary plaque response in 202 patients . RESULTS The combination of atorvastatin/ezetimibe result ed in lower levels of LDL-C  than atorvastatin monotherapy ( 63.2 ± 16.3 mg/dl vs. 73.3 ± 20.3 mg/dl ; p < 0.001 ) . For the absolute change in percent atheroma volume ( PAV ) , the mean difference between the 2 groups ( -1.538 % ; 95 % confidence interval [ CI ] : -3.079 % to 0.003 % ) did not exceed the pre-defined noninferiority margin of 3 % , but the absolute change in PAV did show superiority for the dual lipid-lowering strategy ( -1.4 % ; 95 % CI : -3.4 % to -0.1 % vs. -0.3 % ; 95 % CI : -1.9 % to 0.9 % with atorvastatin alone ; p = 0.001 ) . For PAV , a significantly greater percentage of patients who received atorvastatin/ezetimibe  showed coronary plaque regression ( 78 % vs. 58 % ; p = 0.004 ) . Both strategies had acceptable side effect profiles , with a low incidence of laboratory abnormalities and cardiovascular events . CONCLUSIONS Compared with st and ard statin monotherapy , the combination of statin plus ezetimibe showed greater coronary plaque regression , which might be attributed to cholesterol absorption inhibition-induced aggressive lipid lowering . ( Plaque Regression With Cholesterol Absorption Inhibitor or Synthesis Inhibitor Evaluated by Intravascular Ultrasound [ PRECISE-IVUS ] ; NCT01043380 )
CONCLUSIONS The results suggested that ezetimibe add-on to statin therapy is associated with an enhanced TNF-α-lowering effect  compared with statin monotherapy .
AIMS Statins are known to influence the status of adipokines , which play a key role in the pathophysiology of cardiometabolic diseases .
As the effect of ezetimibe as an add-on to statin therapy on the impact of statins on plasma adipokines levels is currently unclear , the aim of the present study was to investigate this through a meta- analysis of controlled trials .