Lipid-lowering therapy. New and established agents reduce risk of cardiovascular events

Lipid therapy has come a long way in the past 20 years. In the late 1980s, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors ("statins") were introduced, and they have continued to demonstrate benefits in multiple large-scale primary and secondary prevention trials. A broader understanding of the effects of statin medications has led to new therapeutic goals for different patient populations. In this article, Dr Smith discusses recent developments in statin therapy as well as the introduction of a new class of drugs called selective cholesterol absorption inhibitors.