Influence of ezetimibe monotherapy on ischemiamodified albumin levels in hypercholesterolemic patients

Ischemia-modified albumin (ima) is considered to be a novel biochemical marker for ischemic and atherosclerotic conditions. this study aimed to investigate the influence of ezetimibe monotherapy on circulating imalevels in hypercholesterolemic patients. atotal of 31 patients (mean age 65.7 years) received 10 mg of ezetimibe daily during a 12-week treatment period. the levels of lowdensity lipoprotein cholesterol and ima were significantly reduced after ezetimibe treatment. the adjusted regression analyses revealed that the changes in the imalevels were not significantly correlated with those of the other atherosclerotic risk markers,such as body mass index,blood pressure,glucose and lipid panels. the significant reduction of the imalevels following ezetimibe treatment,which was independent of the reduction of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels,suggests that ezetimibe may improve the oxidative stress burden in hypercholesterolemic patients. copyright © 2011 by institute of pharmacology polish academy of sciences.