Efficacy Of Lipid-lowering Drugs Research Articles

Study of serum lipid profile in psoriaticpatients and correlation with disease severity

Introduction :Psoriasis is a chronic proliferative skin disorder with reported incidence of 1.5%-4.8% in different countries. Its etiology is still unknown, while genetic, metabolic and immunological mechanisms have been recommended as its causes. Literature suggests that lipid metabolism maybe play a significant a role in pathogenesis of psoriasis, and psoriatic patients manifest significant lipid abnormalities.Patients and Methods: The study comprised 53 psoriatic patients and 50 age and sex matched healthy subject. For all patients, clinical assessment by using Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score was performed, and fasting blood sampling was collected to assess the lipid profile.Results: Psoriatic patients, in comparison to healthy subjects, show a significant high serum level of total cholesterol (TCH) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) and no significant differences in the serum level of triglyceride (TG), very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL). Conclusions: Psoriatic patients were associated with lipid abnormalities. Atorvastatin shows a promise role in treatment of psoriasis. Furthermore, Atorvastatin demonstrate a beneficial therapeutic role in psoriasis by its hypolipemic efficacy. Further studies were recommended to assess the therapeutic efficacy of lipid lowering drugs in treatment of psoriasis

Efficacy, Safety and Protective Effects of Lipid Lowering Drugs in Patients with Diabetes

Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the effects of statins and fibrates on the lipid profile of patients with diabetes and to determine their side effects. Methods: It was a transversal study. We included patients with type 1 or 2 diabetes that are followed in an outpatient department, treated for at least 3 months by statins or fibrates.We performed an interrogatory, a medical examination, dietary survey and biological tests for all patients. Results:The mean age was 59.5 ± 9.2 years. Women were 65% of patients. The mean duration of treatment with statins and fibrates was 2.2 ± 2.6 years and 4.9 ± 4.2 years, respectively.Under statin therapy, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol decreased significantly by 1.02±1.25 mmol/l and 0.32±0.47 mmol/l, respectively, triglycerides and HDL cholesterol decreased insignificantly.Fibrates caused a significant decrease in total cholesterol and triglycerides by 1.15± 2.24 mmol/l and 1.73 ±2.96 mmol/l, respectively and a non-significant decrease in LDL cholesterol and a non-significant increase in HDL cholesterol. No case of significant hepatic cytolysis was noted. Muscle pain was reported by 10.4% and 11.6% of patients on statins and fibrate, respectively.Under statins, the incidence of gastrointestinal symptoms increased significantly. Conclusion: The efficacy of lipid lowering drugs is widely proven. Although side effects are possible, the prescription of lipid lowering drugs should be largely encouraged for better health care of patients with diabetes.

Research advances in the influence of lipid metabolism on cognitive impairment.

Cognitive impairment (CI) is a mental disorder related to cognition and understanding, which is mainly categorized into mild CI and senile dementia. This disease is associated with multiple factors, such as chronic brain injury, aging, chronic systemic disease, mental state, and psychological factors. However, the pathological mechanism of CI remains unclear; it is usually associated with such underlying diseases as diabetes and hyperlipidemia. It has been demonstrated that abundant lipid metabolism indexes in the human body are closely related to CI, including total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoprotein, and so forth. As a crucial risk factor for CI, hyperlipidemia is of great significance in the occurrence and development of CI. However, the specific correlation between dyslipidemia and CI is still not fully elucidated. Besides, the efficacy of lipid-lowering drugs in the prophylaxis and treatment of CI has not been clarified. In this study, relevant advances in the influence of lipid metabolism disorders in CI will be reviewed, in an attempt to explore the effect of mediating blood lipid levels on the prophylaxis and treatment of CI, thus providing a reference for its clinical management.

Suboptimal Control of Lipid Levels: Results from 29 Countries Participating in the Centralized Pan-Regional Surveys on the Undertreatment of Hypercholesterolaemia (CEPHEUS).

Five multicentre, cross-sectional Centralized Pan-Regional Surveys on the Undertreatment of Hypercholesterolaemia (CEPHEUS) were conducted in 29 countries across Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The surveys assessed the current use and efficacy of lipid-lowering drugs (LLDs) worldwide and identified possible patient and physician characteristics associated with failure to attain low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goals. The aim of this analysis was to consolidate the global results from these surveys. The surveys involved patients aged ≥18 years who had been prescribed LLDs for at least 3 months without dose changes for at least 6 weeks. A single visit was scheduled for data collection, including fasting plasma lipid and glucose levels. Cardiovascular risk profile and LDL-C goal attainment were assessed according to the 2004 updated US National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines. In total, 35 121 patients (mean age: 60.4 years) were included, and 90.3% had been prescribed statin monotherapy. Overall, only 49.4% of patients reached their recommended LDL-C level. LDL-C goals were attained in 54.8% (5084/9273) and 22.8% (3287/14 429) of patients were at high and very high cardiovascular risk, respectively. Factors associated with an increased likelihood of LDL-C goal attainment were lower baseline cardiovascular risk; presence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, or history of cardiovascular disease; and treatment with simvastatin, atorvastatin, or rosuvastatin (vs. all other LLDs). LDL-C goal attainment in patients taking LLDs is suboptimal worldwide, particularly in patients at high and very high cardiovascular risk.

Lipid mediators in diabetic nephropathy.

The implications of lipid lowering drugs in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy have been considered. At the same time, the clinical efficacy of lipid lowering drugs has resulted in improvement in the cardiovascular functions of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients with or without diabetes, but no remarkable improvement has been observed in the kidney outcome. Earlier lipid mediators have been shown to cause accumulative effects in diabetic nephropathy (DN). Here, we attempt to analyze the involvement of lipid mediators in DN. The hyperglycemia-induced overproduction of diacyglycerol (DAG) is one of the causes for the activation of protein kinase C (PKCs), which is responsible for the activation of pathways, including the production of VEGF, TGFβ1, PAI-1, NADPH oxidases, and NFҟB signaling, accelerating the development of DN. Additionally, current studies on the role of ceramide are one of the major fields of study in DN. Researchers have reported excessive ceramide formation in the pathobiological conditions of DN. There is less report on the effect of lipid lowering drugs on the reduction of PKC activation and ceramide synthesis. Regulating PKC activation and ceramide biosynthesis could be a protective measure in the therapeutic potential of DN. Lipid lowering drugs also upregulate anti-fibrotic microRNAs, which could hint at the effects of lipid lowering drugs in DN.

Gender and ethnic differences in the control of hyperlipidaemia and other vascular risk factors : insights from the CEntralised Pan-South African survey on tHE Under-treatment of hypercholeSterolaemia (CEPHEUS SA) study : cardiovascular topic

The aim of the CEntralised Pan-South African survey on tHE Under-treatment of hypercholeSterolaemia (CEPHEUS SA) was to evaluate the current use and efficacy of lipid-lowering drugs (LLDs) in urban patients of different ethnicity with hyperlipidaemia, and to identify possible patient characteristics associated with failure to achieve low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) targets. There is little published data on LDL-C attainment from developing countries. The survey was conducted in 69 study centres in South Africa and recruited consecutive patients who had been prescribed LLDs for at least three months with no dose adjustment for six weeks. All patients provided written consent. One visit was scheduled for data collection, including fasting lipid and glucose, and HbA1c levels. Of the 3 001 patients recruited, 2 996 were included in the final analyses; 1 385 subjects were of Caucasian origin (818 male), 510 of African ancestry (168 male), 481 of mixed ancestry (222 male) and 620 of Asian origin (364 male). Only 60.5% of patients on LLDs for at least three months achieved the LDL-C targets recommended by the NCEP ATP III/2004 updated NCEP ATP III guidelines and 52.3% the fourth JETF/South African guidelines. African females were on average younger than females of other ethnic origins, and had the lowest smoking rates but the highest prevalence of obesity, hypertension, the metabolic syndrome and diabetes mellitus (DM), with the worst glycaemic control. Although women were less likely than men to reach goal [OR 0.65 (CI 0.54-0.77), p < 0.001 for NCEP ATP III guidelines and OR 0.76 (CI 0.64-0.91), p < 0.003 for fourth JETF guidelines], women of African ancestry were just as likely not to reach goal as their Caucasian counterparts. The results of this survey highlight the sub-optimal lipid control achieved in many South African patients, and profile important gender and ethnic differences. Control of cardiovascular disease risk factors across gender and ethnic groups remains poor.

Dyslipidämie – Wann ist der Einsatz von Lipidsenkern in der Praxis sinnvoll?

Dyslipidemia is one of the main modifiable cardiovascular risk factors. There is strong evidence for the efficacy of lipid-lowering drugs in secondary prevention, as well as in primary prevention for patients at high cardiovascular risk. In primary prevention, indication for lipid-lowering interventions should be based on an individual assessment of the cardiovascular risk and on the LDL cholesterol level, despite less strong evidence for the efficacy of drug-based interventions in low risk patients. Treatment consists of statins, as well as lifestyle modifications such as body weight control and increased physical exercise. The latter constitute the primary intervention in patients at low cardiovascular risk. Secondary dyslipidemias due to an underlying medical condition and familial dyslipidemias such as Familial Hypercholesterolemia and Familial Combined Hyperlipidemia should be identified and treated accordingly, taking into account that the risk scoring systems are not appropriate in these situations.

CEPHEUS SA: a South African survey on the undertreatment of hypercholesterolaemia.

The aim of the CEntralised Pan-South African survey on tHE Under-treatment of hypercholeSterolaemia (CEPHEUS SA) was to evaluate the current use and efficacy of lipidlowering drugs (LLDs), and to identify possible patient and physician characteristics associated with failure, if any, to achieve low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) targets. The survey was conducted in 69 study centres in South Africa and recruited consecutive consenting patients who had been prescribed LLDs for at least three months. One visit was scheduled for data collection, including fasting plasma lipid and glucose levels. Physicians and patients completed questionnaires regarding their knowledge, awareness and perceptions of hypercholesterolaemia and the treatment thereof. Of the 3 001 patients recruited, 2 996 were included in the final analyses. The mean age was 59.4 years, and 47.5% were female. Only 60.5 and 52.3% of patients on LLDs for at least three months achieved the LDL-C target recommended by the NCEP ATP III/2004 updated NCEP ATP III and the Fourth JETF/South African guidelines, respectively. Being male, older than 40 years, falling into the lower-risk categories, compliance with the medication regimen, and patient knowledge that the LDL-C goal had been reached, were associated with the highest probability of attaining LDL-C goals. The results of this survey highlight the sub-optimal lipid control achieved in many South African patients taking lipid-lowering therapy.

Centralized Pan-European survey on the under-treatment of hypercholesterolaemia (CEPHEUS): overall findings from eight countries

Background:Surveys evaluating plasma lipid goal attainment in patients with coronary heart disease have shown that hypercholesterolaemia is inadequately treated. Limited data account for the reasons behind this. The aim of the CEntralized Pan-European survey on tHE Under-treatment of hypercholeSterolaemia (CEPHEUS) survey was to evaluate the current use and efficacy of lipid-lowering drugs (LLD), and to identify possible patient/physician characteristics associated with failure to achieve low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) targets recommended by the 2003 European guidelines (Third Joint Task Force).Methods:CEPHEUS was a European, multi-centre, cross-sectional survey conducted in eight countries and involved patients on LLD for >3 months (stable medication >6 weeks). One visit was scheduled for data collection, including fasting lipids. In all but one country, physicians and patients filled in a questionnaire about aspects of hypercholesterolaemia and treatment.Clinical trial registration:Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00542867.Results:Of the 15 199 patients recruited, 14 478 were included in the final analyses. The mean age was 63.2 years, and 45% of patients were female. Overall, 55.3% of the patients achieved their LDL-C target. In multivariate analyses, the factors identified as positive predictors for achieving LDL-C goals included normal body mass index, not smoking, not having metabolic syndrome, being on statin therapy and good treatment adherence.Limitations:The population was a selected group of subjects treated with LLD, and the results cannot be extrapolated to the general population. Patient consent was obtained, which may have selected more motivated patients and induced a positive bias. The physician and patient questionnaires were not validated, but were only used for exploratory purposes.Conclusion:Only 55.3% of patients using LLD achieved the LDL-C target recommended in the 2003 European guidelines.

Should hyperlipidemia in children with the nephrotic syndrome be treated?

The pathogenesis, clinical significance, and treatment options of the disturbances in lipid metabolism in children with persistent nephrotic syndrome are reviewed. The lipoprotein profile is characterized by elevations of total plasma cholesterol and often triglycerides, elevated very low-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, whereas high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels are variable; plasma levels of the atherogenic and thrombogenic lipoprotein(a) are also elevated. The pathophysiology of nephrotic dyslipoproteinemia is multifactorial, including both an increased hepatic synthesis and a diminished plasma catabolism of lipoproteins. There is a rationale for treatment, since dyslipidemia may contribute to the development of atherosclerosis and the progression of chronic renal failure. However, the benefits of treatment with lipid-lowering drugs have not been proven. Short-term studies in adults with nephrotic syndrome have documented safety and efficacy of lipid-lowering drugs, including hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitors ("statins"), bile acid sequestrants, fibric acids, fish oil, and probucol. Statins are the most-effective mediation, resulting in a decrease of total cholesterol levels by about 30%-40%. Prospective controlled studies in children evaluating efficacy and safety of lipid-lowering drugs are needed.