AIM: High cholesterol absorption in the small intestine has been proposed to be a risk factor of atherosclerosis. In this study, we evaluated the effect of ezetimibe monotherapy on arterial stiffness in type 2 diabetic patients. METHODS: Forty type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with high serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were enrolled and treated with ezetimibe 10 mg/day for 6 months. HbA1c, serum lipids, remnant-like particle-cholesterol (RLP-C), serum lipoprotein lipase mass (LPL mass) and the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) were measured before and after ezetimibe treatment. RESULTS: After 6 months of ezetimibe treatment, significant decreases in LDL-C, RLP-C and CAVI were observed. In the group that achieved the LDL-C goal of <120 mg/dL after 6 months of ezetimibe treatment, the pretreatment CAVI was markedly high, and CAVI decreased significantly after ezetimibe treatment. CONCLUSIONS: In type 2 diabetic patients, ezetimibe monotherapy may have the potential to ameliorate arterial stiffness in addition to lowering LDL-C and RLP-C.
AIM: High cholesterol absorption in the small intestine has been proposed to be a risk factor of atherosclerosis. In this study, we evaluated the effect of ezetimibe monotherapy on arterial stiffness in type 2 diabeticpatients. METHODS: Forty type 2 diabetes mellituspatients with high serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were enrolled and treated with ezetimibe 10 mg/day for 6 months. HbA1c, serum lipids, remnant-like particle-cholesterol (RLP-C), serum lipoprotein lipase mass (LPL mass) and the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) were measured before and after ezetimibe treatment. RESULTS: After 6 months of ezetimibe treatment, significant decreases in LDL-C, RLP-C and CAVI were observed. In the group that achieved the LDL-C goal of <120 mg/dL after 6 months of ezetimibe treatment, the pretreatment CAVI was markedly high, and CAVI decreased significantly after ezetimibe treatment. CONCLUSIONS: In type 2 diabeticpatients, ezetimibe monotherapy may have the potential to ameliorate arterial stiffness in addition to lowering LDL-C and RLP-C.