Via practica 1/2010

Role of niacin in a hypolipidaemic treatment in high cardiovascular risk patients

High residual cardiovascular risk in high cardiovascular risk patients is possible to influence by improving lipids beyond LDL-cholesterol lowering with statin monotherapy. Niacin may play an important role in a combined hypolipidemic treatment added to statin monotherapy. Hypolipidemic effects of niacin were known already for a long time, but the treatment was limited by the occurrence of significant sideeffects. They mainly occur due to the flush mediated primarily by prostaglandin D2 and not existing slow-released formulas. Nowadays we have possibility to use the combination of laropiprant (PGD2 receptor antagonist) together with extended-release form of niacin in fixed-dose tablet. First results show advantages of this form of therapy in high cardiovascular risk patients.

Keywords: hypolipidaemic drugs, residual cardiovascular risk, niacin, therapy