Patient description: The patient is a 41-year-old obese woman coming to the emergency room with abdominal pain and vomiting. The pain that started gradually yesterday is located in the epigastric and periumbilical regions, radiating to her back. She drinks alcohol frequently and does not smoke. She has no history of allergies and uses only multivitamins daily. Her family history is positive for hypertension (her mother). She lives with her husband and has 3 children. The abdomen is tender and soft. Her bowel sounds are normal. Her heart rate is 115/min and blood pressure 110/75 mmHg. The lab studies are remarkable for leukocytosis (19.5), urea of 8.5, high CRP (145), high amylase (1200) and Glucose level of 15. Her abdominal CT scan revealed acute edematous interstitial pancreatitis with enlarged common bile duct and intrahepatic duct confirming gall stone pancreatitis. Her pregnancy test is negative and she is not breastfeeding.

Clinical trial eligibility criteria: eligible ages (years): 18.0-999.0,  Hypercholesterolemia Patients are eligible for study entry based on the following 1. Males or females greater than or equal to 18 years of age 2. Females must not be pregnant or lactating. Females of childbearing potential and males must use a reliable means of contraception. 3. LDL-C level greater than the NCEP goals, as determined by patients' risk category according to NCEP ATP III 4. Risk category for coronary heart disease and coronary heart disease equivalent with LDL goal of < 100 mg/dL 5. Baseline lipid LDL-C = 100 to160 mg/dL and triglyceride level = 100 to 500 mg/dL 6. Normal thyroid function tests (total T3, total T4, and thyroid-stimulating hormone [TSH]) 7. Hemoglobin A1C < 8.5% on a stable oral hypoglycemic or insulin regimen 8. On stable lipid modification pharmacotherapy (including a statin) for at least 2 weeks prior to study entry. Patients must be on at least half of the maximal doses of statins (as assessed by the Investigator), or be intolerant to statins such that the doses are not achievable. 9. Able to give informed consent  Pre-Randomization Patients will not be eligible for the study based on the following 1. History of thyroid disorders of any form within 24 weeks prior to study entry 2. Active liver disease and/or liver transaminases greater than 1.5 X upper limit of normal 3. Active myocarditis, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, uncorrected primary valvular disease, restrictive cardiomyopathy, uncorrected congenital heart disease, or constrictive pericarditis 4. Myocardial infarction, unstable ischemic heart disease, stroke, or coronary revascularization procedure within 24 weeks prior to study entry 5. Moderate or severe symptomatic congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association class III and IV) 6. Drug or alcohol dependence, or other conditions which may affect study compliance 7. Renal insufficiency (serum creatinine > 2 mg/dL) 8. Subjects taking other hormonal therapies (other than oral contraceptive agents and postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy) e.g., glucocorticoids, androgens, or growth hormones 9. Use of thyroid supplements (levothyroxine, liothyronine, etc.) or any preparation containing thyromimetic agents within 24 weeks prior to study entry 10. History of coagulopathy or use of anticoagulants such as warfarin 11. Unstable endocrine/metabolic syndrome that may affect lipid metabolism 12. History of atrial or ventricular arrhythmia 13. Diagnosis of other non-cardiac underlying medical conditions expected to impact mortality within 24 weeks after randomization