A review of trials evaluating nonstatin lipid-lowering therapies.

Recently reported clinical trials raise doubts on the effectiveness of nonstatin lipid-lowering therapies in reducing the residual risk of cardiovascular events after statin monotherapy. Addition of -torcetrapib to statin therapy increased overall mortality in coronary patients despite a marked increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Combining ezetimibe with statin therapy neither further reduces carotid atherosclerosis nor slows aortic stenosis, and it has not been shown to be superior to statin monotherapy in reducing cardiovascular events. Clinical trials currently in progress will more clearly delineate the cardiovascular effects of adding either ezetimibe or extended-release niacin/laropiprant to statin therapy.