Optimization of hypolipidemic and antiplatelet treatment in the diabetic patient with renal disease.

Because diabetes confers a very high risk of cardiovascular morbility and mortality, an aggressive hypolipidemic and antiplatelet treatment has been strongly recommended in the whole diabetic population. In particular, patients who have diabetes should be considered in "secondary prevention" even before presenting cardiovascular events, because diabetes is a "coronary heart disease equivalent." Furthermore, because renal failure is a cardiovascular risk factor per se, patients with diabetes and renal disease present an even greater risk for atherosclerotic vascular events and should be treated even more intensively with hypolipidemic and antiaggregating drugs: the presence of renal impairment does not justify a nihilist therapeutical approach, even if appropriate cautions are mandatory. Finally, dyslipidemia contributes to the deterioration of renal function, a phenomenon potentially prevented by hypolipidemic therapy.