Boosting HDL cholesterol with extended-release niacin (Niaspan) is a more effective way of slowing atherosclerosis in high-risk patients on long-term statin therapy than seeking additional LDL cholesterol reductions by adding ezetimibe (Zetia), researchers here reported…

Ray Gibbons, professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, pointed out that the patients in the ARBITER 6-HALTS study were already quite well-managed, as most had LDLs of less 100 mg/dL, so they could hardly be considered typical. "In my practice, I follow previous outcomes studies (and AHA position), i.e., niacin is the preferred second agent if statins at maximum tolerated dose do not get patients to target," Gibbons said.

MedPage Today by Peggy Peck, 11/16/09

Tags: atherosclerosis, Cardiology, Ezetimibe, Niacin