[Ezetimibe with statins]. / L'ézétimibe comme complément des statines?

ABSTRACT

Ezetimibe is the first cholesterol absorption inhibitor, a novel class of lipopenic drugs that inhibit intestinal absorption of biliary and dietary cholesterol. From a pathophysiological point of view, combining complementary drugs that act on different cholesterol metabolism pathways is particularly interesting. This interest has been confirmed in clinical studies combining ezetimibe and statins, which inhibit cholesterol synthesis in the liver. Adding ezetimibe (10 mg/d) to statin therapy decreased LDL cholesterol by as much as an additional 20%. It may thus be especially useful in patients who are unable to reach the LDL cholesterol target with diet and statins alone. Ezetimibe is well tolerated and is indicated alone in statin-intolerant patients.