Abstract
Ezetimibe represents an effective and safe option to enhance LDL-C lowering efficacy of statins. It can be combined with any statin and in case of statin intolerance also with non-statin lipid-lowering agents. its use in the Czech Republic is still relatively limited despite the fact a large number of treated patients does not achieve LDL-C target levels. its mechanism of action e.g. selective blockage of NPC1L1 cholesterol transport protein in the brush border of the enterocytu leads to 20% LDL-C lowering additional to the efficacy of any of co-administered statins. as ezetimibe has been in use for quite some time its efficacy can be demonstrated by many clinical trials among which the most complex and important one is the IMPROVIE-IT study.
This trial has particularly well documented the predicted benefit of statin-ezetimibe combination in the highest risk patients' groups, namely patients with type 2 diabetes. These benefit from the therapy at least twice as much as non-diabetics.