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Updated: May 29, 2026

Differential Effects of Lipid-lowering Drugs in Modulating Morphology of Cholesterol Particles
Published on: November 10, 2017
Ezetimibe in sirolimus-associated hyperlipidemia: to add or not to add to statins?
Mariusz Niemczyk1, Leszek Paczek
1Department of Immunology, Transplant Medicine and Internal Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland. mariuszniemczyk@wp.pl
Background:
Hyperlipidemia is a universal adverse effect of proliferation signal inhibitors (PSI). We report our experience with ezetimibe/statin combined therapy in a case of a kidney transplant recipient receiving sirolimus (SRL)-based immunosuppression. We also present our doubts concerning the need for ezetimibe in kidney transplant recipients on PSI-based immunosuppression.
Case Report:
Results. In the reported patient, ezetimibe/statin combination therapy successfully decreased cholesterol level.
Conclusions:
Combined therapy with ezetimibe and statin seems to be effective and safe in transplant recipients with SRL-associated hyperlipidemia. However, well-designed clinical trials should be performed to evaluate if there is an impact of such treatment on the frequency of cardiovascular events and patient survival.
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