Journal List > J Korean Diabetes > v.16(4) > 1054987

Lee: Update on the Pharmacologic Agents for Dyslipidemia

Abstract

Although statins have demonstrated consistent and strong effects on cardiovascular prevention, non-statin drugs have failed to show additional clinical benefit. Consequently, statins are currently recommended as first-line therapy in dyslipidemia. On the contrary, non-statin drugs are indicated in limited cases in which statins are not sufficiently effective or intolerable. A recent trial on ezetimibe provides evidence supporting further prescription of this agent. Proprotein convertase subtilisin-kexin type 9 inhibitors have strong low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol–lowering effects and were just approved in Western countries. However, results of clinical outcomes are not yet available. Other non-statin lipid-modifying agents have their own roles and limitations. Thus, it is important to have correct knowledge on these agents for optimal treatment of dyslipidemic patients.

References

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Table 1.
Recommendations for use of non-statin lipid-modifying agents in foreign guidelines
Guideline Recommendation
2011 ESC [1] When statin-intolerant: ezetimibe alone or plus resins or niacin (IIb/C)
  When target is not reached: statin plus ezetimibe or resins or niacin (IIb/C)
2012 JAS [9] High risk plus high LDL-C: statin escalation or combination with ezetimibe or EPA
2013 ACC/AHA [2] Not generally recommended
  High risk plus less statin-responsive or statin-intolerant plus benefit outweighs adverse events (IIb/B-C)
2014 IAS [10] In secondary prevention, when failed to reach target: add resins or ezetimibe
  In secondary prevention, when hypertriglyceridemia after LDL-C target is reached: add fibrate or n3FA (there is no RCT data to support this)
  In primary prevention, when statin-intolerant: change to ezetimibe, resins, or niacin alone or in combination
2015 ADA [11] Not generally recommended

ESC, European Society of Cardiology; JAS, Japan Atherosclerosis Society; ACC/AHA, American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association; IAS, International Atherosclerosis Society; ADA, American Diabetes Association; LDL-C, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol; EPA, eicosapentaenoic acid; n3FA, omega-3-fatty acids; RCT, randomized controlled trial.

Table 2.
Results of recent clinical trials on agents lowering LDL-C
Year Trial Design Major findings
2014 IMPROVE-IT 18,114 patients with acute coronary syndrome; simvastatin 40 mg + ezetimibe 10 mg vs. simvastatin 40 mg; mean follow-up: 6 years Average LDL-C: 53.7 mg/dL vs. 69.5 mg/dL; composite of cardiovascular events: 32.7% vs. 34.7% (HR: 0.936,P = 0.016)
2015 ODYSSEY LONG TERM 2,341 patients with high cardiovascular risk + on maxmum tolerable statins; alirocumab 150 mg vs. placebo every 2 weeks; follow-up78 weeks LDL-C lowering by 62%; alirocumab had higher AEs (mostP ≥ 0.05); cardiovascular events rate: 1.7% vs. 3.3% (HR: 0.52,P = 0.02) in post-hoc analysis
2015 OSLER 4,465 patients underwent 12 phase 2 or 3 trials of evolocumab; evolocumab 140 mg every 2 weeks or 420 mg monthly vs. standard threapy; median follow-up 11 months LDL-C lowering by 61%; most AEs except neurocognitive events were similar; cardiovascular events: 2.18% vs. 0.95% (HR: 0.47; P = 0.003)

LDL-C, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol; HR, hazard ratio; AE, adverse event.

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