Dyslipidemia: news in diagnosis and drug therapy
Cattin, L.; Spangano, F.; Fonda, M.
Giornale Italiano di Nefrologia Organo Ufficiale Della Societa Italiana di Nefrologia 29 Suppl. 54: S5-13
2012
ISSN/ISBN: 0393-5590 PMID: 22388822 Document Number: 660534
Plasma lipid levels are to a large extent determined by genetic factors. In its more extreme forms this is manifested as familial hyperlipidemias, which are an important cause of premature coronary heart disease. It has been demonstrated that rigorous treatment of familial forms reduces the burden of ischemic heart disease. Statins are among the most studied drugs in cardiovascular prevention; a number of large-scale clinical trials have demonstrated that statins substantially reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in both primary and secondary prevention. The currently available evidence suggests that the clinical benefit is largely independent of the type of statin, but depends on the extent of LDL-C lowering. When the most potent statins are insufficient, LDL-C apheresis should be used.