In a June 13th publication in Lipids in Health and Disease, Dr. Greg P. Bondy and colleagues at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver note that ezetimibe blocks intestinal absorption of dietary cholesterol and has been effective in lowering lipids in patients with and without HIV.

However, the team points out that in HIV patients it is not known if adding ezetimibe to lipid lowering therapy, whether it be a fibrate, a highly potent statin or both, will further optimize the serum lipid profile.

To investigate, the researchers retrospectively studied 33 HIV patients who had not achieved lipid targets despite maximal therapy. They were given 10 mg of ezetimibe orally per day for a mean of about 80 days.

Overall, there was a 21% reduction in mean total cholesterol, a 35% reduction in mean LDL, an 8% increase in mean HDL, a 34% reduction in mean triglyceride and 33% reduction in mean apolipoprotein B100.

When the results were analyzed by subgroup, according to their baseline lipid lowering therapy, the team still found improvements in total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, apolipoprotein B100 and triglycerides.

The researchers note that there were no adverse events and conclude that "if the lipid targets are not met after maximally tolerated doses of lipid lowering therapy with a statin and/or fibrate, ezetimibe is safe and effective."

Lipids Health Dis 2007;6.

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