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 lovastatin in primary hypercholesterolemia.
This multicenter , r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled clinical study assessed the efficacy and safety of ezetimibe administered with lovastatin in primary hypercholesterolemia .  After dietary stabilization , a 2- to 12-week washout period , and a 4-week single-blind placebo lead-in period , 548 patients with low-density lipoprotein ( LDL ) cholesterol > or = 145 mg/dl ( 3.75 mmol/L ) and < or = 250 mg/dl ( 6.47 mmol/L ) and triglycerides < or = 350 mg/dl ( 3.99 mmol/L ) were r and omized to one of the following , administered daily for 12 weeks :  ezetimibe 10 mg ; lovastatin 10 , 20 , or 40 mg ; ezetimibe 10 mg plus lovastatin 10 , 20 , or 40 mg ; or placebo . The primary efficacy variable was percentage decrease in direct LDL cholesterol from baseline to end point for pooled ezetimibe plus lovastatin versus pooled lovastatin alone . Ezetimibe plus lovastatin significantly improved concentrations of LDL cholesterol , high-density lipoprotein ( HDL ) cholesterol , and triglycerides compared with lovastatin alone ( p < 0.01 ) . The coadministration of ezetimibe provided an incremental 14 % LDL cholesterol decrease , a 5 % HDL cholesterol increase , and a 10 % decrease in triglycerides compared with pooled lovastatin alone . Ezetimibe plus lovastatin provided mean LDL cholesterol decreases of 33 % to 45 % , median triglyceride decreases of 19 % to 27 % , and mean HDL cholesterol increases of 8 % to 9 % , depending on the statin dose . The coadministration of ezetimibe 10 mg plus the starting dose of lovastatin ( 10 mg ) provided comparable efficacy to high-dose lovastatin ( 40 mg ) across the lipid profile ( LDL cholesterol , HDL cholesterol , and triglycerides ) .  Ezetimibe plus lovastatin was well tolerated , with a safety profile similar to both lovastatin alone and placebo . The coadministration of ezetimibe and lovastatin may offer a new treatment option in lipid management of patients with 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 ) .