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 .
The effect of simvastatin-ezetimibe combination therapy on adipose tissue hormones and systemic inflammation in patients with isolated hypercholesterolemia.
BACKGROUND Pleiotropic effects of ezetimibe have only been investigated in a few studies . The aim of this article was to compare the effects of simvastatin and the combined treatment with simvastatin and ezetimibe on low- grade systemic inflammation and plasma levels of selected adipokines in patients with isolated hypercholesterolemia . METHODS The study included 69 patients with elevated cholesterol levels , who were allocated to one of the three groups treated for 12 weeks , respectively , with simvastatin ( 40 mg daily ) , simvastatin ( 40 mg daily ) plus ezetimibe ( 10 mg daily ) , or placebo .  Plasma levels of lipids , apolipoproteins , glucose homeostasis markers , leptin , adiponectin , visfatin , tumor necrosis factor-α ( TNF-α ) , free fatty acids ( FFA ) , and high-sensitive C-reactive protein ( hsCRP ) were determined on the allocation day and after 12 weeks of therapy . RESULTS Apart from improving lipid profile , simvastatin administered alone or in combination with ezetimibe , decreased plasma levels of hsCRP , FFA , leptin , visfatin , and TNF-α , as well as increased plasma levels of adiponectin . The combination therapy was superior to simvastatin in influencing plasma lipids/lipoproteins , hsCRP , FFA , and the investigated adipokines . The effect of the combination therapy , but not of simvastatin , on systemic inflammation and plasma adipokines was stronger in insulin-resistant than in insulin-sensitive subjects . CONCLUSIONS The obtained results suggest that insulin-resistant patients with hypercholesterolemia and high cardiovascular risk may benefit the most from the combined treatment with simvastatin and ezetimibe
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 .