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Drugs
Published in: Drugs 4/2013

01-03-2013 | Current Opinion

LDL Cholesterol Goals in High-Risk Patients: How Low Do We Go and How Do We Get There?

Authors: Joost Besseling, Julian van Capelleveen, John J. P. Kastelein, G. Kees Hovingh

Published in: Drugs | Issue 4/2013

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Abstract

It is widely recognised that low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is one of the most important and modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Statins (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors) have consistently been shown to decrease both LDL-C and CVD risk in almost all patient categories, with the exception of heart and kidney failure as well as advanced aortic stenosis. As a consequence, statins have become the cornerstone in current prevention guidelines. In patients who do not reach the LDL-C target, combination therapy with additional LDL-C lowering drugs (e.g. ezetimibe, bile acid sequestrants or fibrates) should be considered. Guidelines provide different LDL-C levels to strive for, depending on the CVD risk. In this review, we describe the rationale for these LDL-C targets and how these goals might be reached by current and future therapies.
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Metadata
Title
LDL Cholesterol Goals in High-Risk Patients: How Low Do We Go and How Do We Get There?
Authors
Joost Besseling
Julian van Capelleveen
John J. P. Kastelein
G. Kees Hovingh
Publication date
01-03-2013
Publisher
Springer International Publishing AG
Published in
Drugs / Issue 4/2013
Print ISSN: 0012-6667
Electronic ISSN: 1179-1950
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40265-013-0028-0

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