Ischemic heart disease statins

To control risk factors and prevent major adverse cardiac events, statin therapy should be considered in all patients with ischemic heart disease, particularly in those with elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. In the absence of contraindications, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors should be considered in ischemic heart disease patients who also have diabetes melli-tus, left ventricular dysfunction, history of myocardial infarction, or any combination of these. Angiotensin receptor blockers... 

As previously discussed in the LDL cholesterol section, lipid-lowering agents primarily in the form of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (i.e., statins) have consistently demonstrated the ability to significantly reduce the incidence of death, myocardial infarction, revascularization, and stroke and are an essential component to the treatment of patients with chronic ischemic heart disease (45). 

B. Clinical Use Statins can reduce LDL cholesterol levels dramatically (see Table 35-3), especially when used in combination with other drugs (see Table 35-2), These drugs are used commonly because they are well tolerated and because large clinical trials have shown that they reduce the risk of coronary events and mortality in patients with ischemic heart disease. 

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