Lipid-lowering Agents In Patients Research Articles

The Anti-Depressant Effects of Statins in Patients With Major Depression Post-Myocardial Infarction: An Updated Review 2022.

Statins are the most commonly prescribed lipid-lowering agents in patientswith cardiovascular disease, and more than half of the patients with cardiovascular disease have associated depressive symptoms, particularly post-myocardial infarction, which is a major trigger for depression. In our research, we tried to understand the anti-depressant effects of statins, the mechanisms, risks and benefits, and potential drug-drug interactions with anti-depressant medications. We reviewed all the relevant information from inception up to September 2022 regarding the anti-depressant effects of statins. The database used was PubMed, and the keywords were statins, major depression, post-myocardial infarction, and hydroxy methylglutaryl-coenzyme A(HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors. We have screened each of the articles carefully, including both human and animal studies, and found a positive correlation between reduction in depressive symptoms with statin therapy as adjunctive treatmentwith conventional anti-depressants. Inconclusion, statins as a monotherapy are not an effective treatment for depression post-myocardial infarction but are good add-on options along with standard therapy such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). Statins are safe and have no serious drug-drug interactions with anti-depressants. We would like to encourage large-scale observational studies and further post-marketing surveillance to improve our knowledge regarding the effectiveness of statins in the treatment of depression.

Medication Persistence to Lipid-lowering Agents As A Cost-saving Opportunities on Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Indonesia

Medication persistence is known to reduce acute coronary syndrome (ACS) disease mortality. As much as 13% of Indonesia's budget on national health insurance programs was used for cardiovascular disease. The number of population-based studies discussing the cost-saving opportunities of medication persistence in ACS patients undergoing percutaneous coronary syndrome (PCI) is still minimal. This study aimed to investigate the estimated cost saving of persistence to lipid-lowering agents in patients with ACS after their first PCI. Hospital-based, retrospective cohort study with 2 years of follow-up was conducted with 367 patients. Patients were deemed as having medication persistence if the gap between prescriptions was ≤ 30 days. Persistence assessment was done for lipid-modifying agents (WHO ATC Code: C10). The main outcome is cost-saving opportunities assessed by dividing the difference in total costs resulting from medication persistence with the difference in the proportion of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) prevented by medication persistence. The study found that direct medical costs incurred by persistent patients were significantly lower than non-persistent patients with lipid-lowering agents (IDR 9,535,209.76 versus IDR 15,933,959.28). Persistence to lipid-lowering therapy can prevent one MACE incident with cost-saving of IDR 996,192.41 when compared to non-persistence patients, while one MACCE incident can be prevented with cost-saving of IDR 733,103.02. Our study indicates that among ACS patients who underwent their first PCI, medication persistence with lipid-lowering agents can contribute to cost-saving in preventing one MACE or MACCE event. These data will be useful for policymakers to help budget allocation and reemphasize the important role of medication persistence with lipid-lowering therapy in the management of ACS after PCI.

Lipoprotein(a) and Benefit of PCSK9 Inhibition in Patients With Nominally Controlled LDL Cholesterol

BackgroundGuidelines recommend nonstatin lipid-lowering agents in patients at very high risk for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) if low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) remains ≥70 mg/dL on maximum tolerated statin treatment. It is uncertain if this approach benefits patients with LDL-C near 70 mg/dL. Lipoprotein(a) levels may influence residual risk. ObjectivesIn a post hoc analysis of the ODYSSEY Outcomes (Evaluation of Cardiovascular Outcomes After an Acute Coronary Syndrome During Treatment With Alirocumab) trial, the authors evaluated the benefit of adding the proprotein subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitor alirocumab to optimized statin treatment in patients with LDL-C levels near 70 mg/dL. Effects were evaluated according to concurrent lipoprotein(a) levels. MethodsODYSSEY Outcomes compared alirocumab with placebo in 18,924 patients with recent acute coronary syndromes receiving optimized statin treatment. In 4,351 patients (23.0%), screening or randomization LDL-C was <70 mg/dL (median 69.4 mg/dL; interquartile range: 64.3-74.0 mg/dL); in 14,573 patients (77.0%), both determinations were ≥70 mg/dL (median 94.0 mg/dL; interquartile range: 83.2-111.0 mg/dL). ResultsIn the lower LDL-C subgroup, MACE rates were 4.2 and 3.1 per 100 patient-years among placebo-treated patients with baseline lipoprotein(a) greater than or less than or equal to the median (13.7 mg/dL). Corresponding adjusted treatment hazard ratios were 0.68 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.52-0.90) and 1.11 (95% CI: 0.83-1.49), with treatment-lipoprotein(a) interaction on MACE (Pinteraction = 0.017). In the higher LDL-C subgroup, MACE rates were 4.7 and 3.8 per 100 patient-years among placebo-treated patients with lipoprotein(a) >13.7 mg/dL or ≤13.7 mg/dL; corresponding adjusted treatment hazard ratios were 0.82 (95% CI: 0.72-0.92) and 0.89 (95% CI: 0.75-1.06), with Pinteraction = 0.43. ConclusionsIn patients with recent acute coronary syndromes and LDL-C near 70 mg/dL on optimized statin therapy, proprotein subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibition provides incremental clinical benefit only when lipoprotein(a) concentration is at least mildly elevated. (ODYSSEY Outcomes: Evaluation of Cardiovascular Outcomes After an Acute Coronary Syndrome During Treatment With Alirocumab; NCT01663402)

Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia: prevalence and control rates

Introduction: Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (heFH) is associated with a very high risk for cardiovascular events. Treatment with potent statins substantially reduces cardiovascular morbidity in these patients. Moreover, combination therapy with statins plus ezetimibe and/or proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors facilitates achievement of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) targets in patients with heFH. However, heFH remains underdiagnosed and undertreated worldwide. Areas covered: In this review, we summarize current evidence on the prevalence and control rates of heFH. Accumulating data suggest that heFH is one of the most common hereditary metabolic disorders, affecting approximately 1 in every 300 individuals. However, only a small minority of patients with heFH achieve LDL-C targets, even in high-income countries and in subjects followed-up in specialized lipid clinics. Expert opinion: Given the underdiagnosis of heFH using cascade and opportunistic screening, wider, population-based screening strategies should be evaluated for their feasibility and cost-effectiveness if we aspire to timely diagnosis and therefore prevention of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in this very high risk population. Overcoming inertia in uptitrating statin dose, adding ezetimibe and/or PCSK9 inhibitors along with more generous reimbursement for lipid-lowering agents in patients with heFH are essential for improving goal attainment rates.

Comparative efficacy and safety of lipid-lowering agents in patients with hypercholesterolemia: A frequentist network meta-analysis.

The comparative efficacy and safety of PCSK9 inhibitors, statins, and ezetimibe to lower lipid levels in patients with hypercholesterolemia remain unknown. We aimed to investigate the benefits and harms of the lipid-lowering agents in these patients. PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched from January 1, 2000 to June 1, 2018 for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Frequentist network meta-analysis was used to pool all estimates. Ranking probabilities were used to rank the comparative effects of all drugs against placebo. Eighty-four RCTs enrolled 246,706 patients were included. Most of the included were assessed as low risk of bias. The probabilities of PCSK9 inhibitors that ranked first in improving lipid outcomes were all 100%. The probability of statins that ranked first in reducing the risk of cardiovascular (CV) events was 60.6%, and the probability of PCSK9 inhibitor was 37.1%, while no significant difference of efficacy in reducing CV events was observed between the 2 agents (odds ratios [OR] 0.98, 95% CI 0.87-1.11). Statin ranked first in reducing all-cause and CV death. Compared with placebo, statins were associated with reduced risks of all-cause (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.85-0.96) and CV death (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.75-0.91) while PCSK9 inhibitors and ezetimibe were not. No agents caused adverse events (including neurocognitive events), except that statins therapy significantly increases the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (OR 1.89, 95% CI 1.42-2.51) and creatine kinase (CK) (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.09-1.93) and the incidence of diabetes (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.02-1.26). PCSK9 inhibitors were the most effective lipid-lowering agents in improving lipid levels. Furthermore, PCSK9 inhibitors achieved similar CV benefits like statins, while PCSK9 inhibitors were not associated with any increased risk of statin-related side-effects. Thus, PCSK9 inhibitors may also be recommended as promisingly first-line lipid-lowering treatment for patients with hypercholesterolemia, especially for these with statins intolerance or resistance.

Among Patients With NAFLD, Treatment of Dyslipidemia Does Not Reduce Cardiovascular Mortality.

Dyslipidemia is one of the common risk factors for NAFLD and is associated with cardiovascular (CV) mortality, which is the most common cause of death in NAFLD. Lipid‐lowering agents (LLAs) are used to reduce CV events in the general population. Our aim was to assess whether the use of LLAs in patients with NAFLD can reduce the risk of CV mortality. We used the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey mortality linked files. Mortality was determined from the National Death Index records through 2011. NAFLD was diagnosed by ultrasound after exclusion of other causes of liver disease. After inclusion and exclusion, the cohort consisted of 2,566 patients with NAFLD (45.8% < 45 years of age, 52.8% male, 75.4% white). Those who were taking LLAs were more likely to be older, non‐Hispanic white, and had significantly higher rates of diabetes mellitus (DM), hyperlipidemia, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, and history of CV disease (CVD) (all P< 0.01). In our multivariate analysis, DM was an independent predictor of overall mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 1.79 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.40‐2.30]) and CV mortality (aHR: 1.89 [95% CI: 1.08‐3.30]). History of CVD was associated with both overall (aHR: 2.03 [95% CI: 1.57‐2.63]) and CV mortality (aHR: 3.69 [95% CI: 2.23‐6.08]). In contrast, the use of statins and other LLAs was not associated with reduction in overall (aHR = 0.95 [95% CI: 0.37‐2.44] and aHR = 1.43 [95% CI: 0.99‐2.07]) and CV mortality (aHR = 1.20 [95% CI: 0.26‐5.54] and aHR = 1.63 [95% CI: 0.70‐3.76]). Conclusion: The use of statins and other LLAs did not reduce the increased risk of overall or CV mortality in NAFLD.

Effect of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme a reductase inhibitor on disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a meta-analysis.

HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (also known as statins) are widely used as lipid-lowering agents in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to reduce their cardiovascular risk. However, whether they have an effect on RA disease activity is controversial.This study aimed to investigate the effect of statins on disease activity in RA patients.A systematic literature review was performed using the MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, ISI WEB of Knowledge, Scopus, and Clinical Trials Register databases.Only prospective randomized controlled trials or controlled clinical trials comparing the efficacy of statins with placebo on adult RA patients were included. The efficacy was measured according to the ACR criteria, EULAR criteria, DAS28, HAQ score, ESR, or CRP.The Jadad score was used for quality assessment. The inverse variance method was used to analyze continuous outcomes. A fixed-effects model was used when there was no significant heterogeneity; otherwise, a random-effects model was used. For stability of results, we performed leave-one-study-out sensitivity analysis by omitting individual studies one at a time from the meta-analysis. Publication bias was assessed using Egger test.A total 13 studies involving 737 patients were included in the meta-analysis; 11 studies were included in the meta-analysis based on DAS28, while the other 2 studies were only included in the meta-analysis based on ESR or CRP. The standardized mean difference (SMD) in DAS28 between the statin group and the placebo group was −0.55 (95% CI [−0.83, −0.26], P = 0.0002), with an I2 value of 68%. Subgroup analysis showed that patients with more active disease tended to benefit more from statin therapy (SMD −0.73, P = 0.01) than patients with moderate or low disease activity (SMD −0.38, P = 0.03). Statin therapy also significantly reduced tender joint counts, swollen joint counts, ESR, and CRP compared with placebo, but the reduction in HAQ score and VAS was not significant (P > 0.05).This meta-analysis suggested that statin therapy might be effective in the reduction of RA disease activity measured by DAS28, TJC, SJC, as well as ESR and CRP.

Lipid-lowering agents in the management of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease in developed countries and is associated not only with increased risk for liver disease-related complications but also with higher cardiovascular morbidity. Accordingly, lipid-lowering agents are frequently considered in these patients to reduce cardiovascular risk. However, there have been concerns regarding the safety of these agents in patients with chronic liver diseases. In the present review, we discuss the safety of lipid-lowering agents in patients with NAFLD as well as their effects on both cardiovascular and liver disease in this population. Accumulating data suggest that statins are safe in patients with NAFLD and that they reduce the increased cardiovascular morbidity of this population. However, it is still unclear whether statins are also useful as a treatment for NAFLD per se, since there are very limited and conflicting data on their effects on liver histology. There is also very scarce evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of other lipid-lowering agents in patients with NAFLD. Randomized controlled studies are needed to evaluate the role of lipid-lowering agents and particularly statins for the prevention of both cardiovascular and liver disease-related complications in this high-risk population.

Impact of Intensive Lipid Lowering on Lipid Profiles Over Time and Tolerability in Stable Coronary Artery Disease: Insights From a Subanalysis of the Coronary Atherosclerosis Study Measuring Effects of Rosuvastatin Using Intravascular Ultrasound in Japanese Subjects ( COSMOS )

Previous studies have demonstrated that intensive lipid lowering using rosuvastatin results in regression of coronary plaques. However, few data exist regarding lipid profiles over time, drug tolerability, and the effects of prior use of lipid lowering agents in patients on rosuvastatin treatment. Therefore, we studied these matters in a subanalysis of the Coronary Atherosclerosis Study Measuring Effects of Rosuvastatin Using Intravascular Ultrasound in Japanese Subjects (COSMOS). Rosuvastatin was titrated for 76weeks to attain LDL-C<80mg/dL in 213 Japanese dyslipidemic patients with CAD. Clinic visits were scheduled for every 4weeks during the 76-week study period. Changes over time in lipid parameters, changes in those according to prior lipid-lowering therapy, and changes in those according to baseline lipid levels were evaluated in this subanalysis. Overall, 126 patients completed the study. The mean rosuvastatin dose at the last observation carried forward was 16.9mg (range, 2.5-20mg). Rosuvastatin significantly increased HDL-C, lowered LDL-C, and improved the LDL-C/HDL-C ratio (all, P<0.0001). Increases in serum HDL-C levels were significantly greater in patients with HDL-C<40mg/dL than in those with HDL-C≥40mg/dL at baseline (P=0.0005). The estimated glomerular filtration rate increased significantly by 2.84±9.01mL/min/1.73m(2) (P<0.0001). Of 166 adverse events in 74 patients, 113 events in 54 patients were laboratory values beyond the normal range. Rosuvastatin significantly improved lipid profiles, with an acceptable safety profile, contributing to plaque regression in Japanese patients with CAD.

Treatment of dyslipidemia in idiopathic inflammatory myositis: results of the International Myositis Assessment and Clinical Studies Group survey

Recent data suggest that atherosclerotic disease is increased in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myositis (IIM) and that dyslipidemia is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular events. Lipid-lowering agents may be associated with myopathic side effects. The current work evaluates the use of lipid-lowering therapy in patients with IIM treated by IIM specialists belonging to the International Myositis Assessment and Clinical Studies (IMACS) Group. The IMACS Group is a multidisciplinary coalition of experts with significant interest and experience in IIM. IMACS members were asked to complete an 18-item online survey detailing their clinical practice on monitoring and treating hypercholesterolemia in IIM patients. Specific questions regarding the types of lipid-lowering therapies used in IIM patients and any side effects associated with treatment were asked. Sixty-three IMACS members representing 23 countries and a minimum of 1,641 IIM patients participated in the online survey. Seventy-six percent of these specialists treating adult IIM patients use lipid-lowering therapies in their patients. HMG co-enzymeA reductase inhibitors (statins) were the most commonly used agents (93%). Thirty-six cases of worsening myositis associated with statin use were reported in over 300 patients using lipid-lowering therapies. Seven of eight responders who reported worsening in myositis with lipid-lowering therapies reported cases in which the myositis improved after holding therapy. This survey suggests that statins are commonly used by physicians specializing in the treatment of patients with IIM and that some myositis patients worsen with statin use and may improve on dechallenge. More research regarding the safety of lipid-lowering agents in patients with IIM is warranted.

Trends in Secondary Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease in Tunisia: Prevention of Recurrences of MI and Stroke

The survival benefits achieved by prescription of antiplatelet agents, B-adrenoreceptor antagonists (beta-blockers), angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB), and lipid lowering agents in patients surviving the myocardial infarction (MI) have been well documented in large clinical trial. Despite well-established benefits, these pharmacological agents continue to be underutilized. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the progress of cardiovascular secondary prevention practices in Tunisia. The PREMISE (Prevention of Recurrence of Myocardial Infarction and Stroke) is a descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted in Tunisia in two phases (2002 and 2009). Seven hundred eighty two patients were recruited. The recruitment criteria were: previous MI, stable angina, unstable angina, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA) or carotid endarterectomy. This analysis is limited to coronary heart disease (CHD) patients. Five hundred hospital patients were interviewed and their medical records were reviewed: 250 in 2002 and 250 in 2009. Patients were included if they had confirmed diagnosis of MI, angina, CABG or PTCA, and if their first cardiovascular event had occurred more than one month but not later than 3 years ago. We compared the total of both patient groups, using the prevalence of Cardio-Vascular Risk Factors (CVRF) and the treatment prescribed at hospital discharge. The proportion of patients with reported hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia and current smoker patients had decreased. Concerning pharmacological prescriptions, a significant increase was observed in prescribing statins (38.9% vs. 70.3%) and ACE inhibitors (49.3% vs. 69.9%), non pharmacological prescriptions as healthy diet or tobacco cessation had opposite trends. Adherence to treatment did not change substantially. Although the use of cardioprotective drugs had increased in CHD patients, there are still gaps in secondary prevention in Tunisia. The recommended strategies of secondary prevention need to be applied more intensively in clinical practice.

Relationship of IgG and IgM autoantibodies to oxidized low density lipoprotein with coronary artery disease and cardiovascular events

The relationship between autoantibodies to oxidized low density lipoprotein (OxLDL) and coronary artery disease (CAD) remains controversial. IgM and IgG OxLDL autoantibodies to malondialdehyde (MDA)-modified LDL, copper oxidized low density lipoprotein (CuOxLDL), and oxidized cholesterol linoleate (OxCL), as well as apolipoprotein B-100 immune complexes (apoB-ICs), were measured in 504 patients undergoing clinically indicated coronary angiography. Patients were followed for cardiovascular events for a median of 4 years. In univariate analysis, IgM OxLDL autoantibodies and IgM apoB-ICs were inversely associated with the presence of angiographically determined CAD, whereas IgG OxLDL autoantibodies and IgG apoB-ICs were positively associated. In logistic regression analysis, compared with the first quartile, patients in the fourth quartile of IgM OxLDL autoantibodies and apoB-ICs showed a lower probability of angiographically determined CAD (>50% diameter stenosis). Odds ratios and (95% confidence intervals) were as follows: MDA-LDL, 0.51 (0.32-0.82; P = 0.005); CuOxLDL, 0.63 (0.39-1.01; P = 0.05); OxCL, 0.63 (0.39-1.01; P = 0.05); and apoB-IC, 0.55 (0.34-0.88; P = 0.013). These relationships were accentuated in the setting of hypercholesterolemia, with the highest IgM levels showing the lowest risk of CAD for the same level of hypercholesterolemia. Multivariable analysis revealed that neither IgM or IgG OxLDL autoantibodies nor apoB-ICs were independently associated with angiographically determined CAD or cardiovascular events. In conclusion, IgG and IgM OxLDL biomarkers have divergent associations with CAD in univariate analysis but are not independent predictors of CAD or clinical events.

Contemporary Diagnosis and Management of Hypercholesterolemia in Elderly Acute Myocardial Infarction Patients: A Population‐Based Study

There are limited data regarding the diagnosis and treatment of hypercholesterolemia in elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The authors describe the in-hospital and discharge prescription patterns of lipid-lowering agents in patients hospitalized with an AMI, and identify factors associated with low rates of utilization of these therapies. The authors analyzed the Minnesota Heart Survey, a population-based surveillance project that retrospectively abstracted the medical records of patients hospitalized with AMI in 2001-2002 from 21 hospitals in the Minneapolis-St Paul metropolitan area. They identified 2773 patients 30 years and older with an AMI. The mean total cholesterol was 175+/-45 mg/dL, the mean low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was 104+/-38 mg/dL, and the mean high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was 44+/-14 mg/dL. Statins were prescribed at discharge to 74.6%, 63.2%, and 38.5% of patients younger than 65, 65-74, and 75 years and older, respectively (P<.0001). The utilization of statins was highly correlated with the administration of other standard AMI therapies-aspirin, beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers, and reperfusion therapy-and was more prevalent among patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention than among those undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery. Elderly patients remain less likely to receive lipid-lowering therapy following an AMI. Greater attention is required to ensure that elderly AMI patients without contraindications are appropriately treated with lipid-lowering therapy.

The prevention of diabetic microvascular complications of diabetes: Is there a role for lipid lowering?

The role of hyperglycemia in the development of microvascular complications of diabetes, such as nephropathy, retinopathy and neuropathy, has been well documented. Evidence is accumulating to support the concept that dyslipidemia can also contribute to the development of these complications. Lipid-lowering agents, such as statins, have been shown to prevent cardiovascular events in patients with diabetes. However, in addition to preventing macrovascular diseases, statins may also be able to retard the progression of microvascular complications of diabetes. Indeed, in addition to reducing lipid levels, these agents can improve endothelial function and reduce oxidative stress, which can improve microvascular function. These findings would provide further support for the use of lipid-lowering agents in patients with diabetes.

Analysis of the degree of undertreatment of hyperlipidemia and congestive heart failure secondary to coronary artery disease

There is a lack of data evaluating the implementation of guidelines in the management of coronary artery disease (CAD) or congestive heart failure (CHF) in the outpatient setting. We analyzed an administrative data set from the Merck & Co. sponsored national Quality Assurance Program, a retrospective outpatient chart audit of 58,890 adult outpatients from 140 medical practices (80% cardiology only) in the USA with diagnoses of CAD and/or CHF identified from medical claims data. We determined the (1) frequency of lipid documentation and prescription of lipid-lowering agents in patients with CAD, (2) frequency of assessment of left ventricular function and prescription of an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor in patients with CHF, and (3) predictors of medication prescription. Of the 48,586 patients with CAD, 44% had annual diagnostic testing of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Only 25% of these patients reached the target low-density lipoprotein cholesterol of ≤100 mg/dl, and only 39% were taking lipid-lowering therapy, which was less among the elderly than in the younger patients. Of the 16,603 patients with CHF, 64% had diagnostic testing of left ventricular function, and 50% of patients were taking an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor; 67% of patients received medication if they had documented systolic dysfunction. Significant predictors of medication prescription included diagnostic testing, younger age, history of myocardial infarction or coronary artery bypass grafting, hypertension, cardiology specialty, and geographic region. Thus, current practice patterns in the management of CAD and CHF are inadequate. Patient age, diagnostic testing, and practice environment influence medication prescription.

Do we undertreat hyperlipidemia? The use of lipid-lowering agents in patients with coronary artery disease

Do we undertreat hyperlipidemia? The use of lipid-lowering agents in patients with coronary artery disease

Lipoprotein abnormalities in the progression of renal disease

Chronic renal disease is a progressive process. Implicated factors include abnormalities of the clotting cascade, altered prostaglandin metabolism, increased dietary protein intake, and abnormalities of lipoprotein metabolism. Several animal models have associated increased serum concentrations of cholesterol and triglycerides with progressive decline in renal function. The mechanism(s) of lipid-associated renal injury are unknown but may relate to lipid uptake by glomerular mesangial cells, hyperviscosity secondary to the hyperlipidemia, and a direct effect of the lipids on the glomerular basement membrane. Patients with chronic renal disease have well recognized increases in serum lipid concentrations. Whether lowering these concentrations will delay or prevent progressive renal failure or renal histologic abnormalities is unknown, but studies are underway to evaluate the effect of lipid-lowering agents in patients at risk for chronic progressive renal disease.