A high level of remnant lipoprotein cholesterol (RLP-C) is a predominant feature in diabetic patients with atherosclerosis. This study aimed to investigate the effect of ezetimibe added to statin therapy compared to doubling standard statin dose. Sixty-five eligible patients were recruited then prospectively randomized to receive ezetimibe 10 mg/day plus their 40 mg daily atorvastatin dose (group 1) or atorvastatin 80 mg/day (group 2) for 3 months. Efficacy was evaluated using plasma levels of RLP-C, apolipoprotein B, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL), percentage of brachial artery flow-mediated dilation, and lipid profile. Forty patients completed the study and provided efficacy data. Group 1 showed more reduction in RLP-C (45.7% vs 31.7%, P = .02), apolipoprotein B (28.5% vs 9.5%, P = .01), total cholesterol (34.7% vs 24.6%, P = .003), triglycerides (49% vs 24.4%, P = .000), non-HDL (49.3% vs 33%, P = .002), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (49.6% vs 35.2%, P = .02) compared to group 2. Group 1 showed a greater increase in HDL (66% vs 35%, P = .002); and flow-mediated dilation (30% vs 17%, P = .01) compared to group 2. It is concluded that adding ezetimibe 10 mg to atorvastatin 40 mg may be a better choice than doubling atorvastatin dose in improving RLPs, endothelial function, and lipid profile in diabetic cardiovascular patients who could not achieve their therapeutic treatment goals with the standard atorvastatin dose.
Keywords: and hypertriglyceridemia; diabetes mellitus; ezetimibe; flow-mediated dilation; remnant lipoproteinemia; statins.
© 2017, The American College of Clinical Pharmacology.