Lipids Information and Dyslipidemia Education

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APOLLO transitions to the new CVspectrum.org. Please note: all registered user information has been transferred to CVspectrum.org, so log-on and check out the new CVspectrum!

NEW! APOLLO Newsletters

Check out the latest APOLLO Newsletter with articles on HDL, Diet and LDL-C and Clinical Trials Summaries and Commentary! APOLLO Newsletters are certified for AMA, AAFP, CPE, AANP and CNE credit and are endorsed by the NLA

Interview with Dr. Paul Thompson on the Role of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in Statin-Associated Myopathy

Paul D. Thompson, MD

Although serious statin-associated myopathy is rare, muscle-related complaints are generally held to be the most common and clinically significant adverse effects of statin therapy. The mechanism by which statins may affect muscle is unknown, and a number of explanations have been proposed. One theory that has attracted wide interest relates statin-associated muscle complaints to depletion of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). The role of CoQ10 in statin-associated myopathy is the subject of a recently published systematic review by Leo Marcoff and APOLLO Steering Committee member Paul D. Thompson.¹ In this interview, Dr. Thompson discusses the prevalence of statin-related muscle complaints, theories about their causation, and the conclusions of his and Dr. Marcoff’s review of the evidence on the role of CoQ10.

Besides therapeutic lifestyle change, what treatment do you recommend for a patient at high risk for CAD but unable to take or tolerate a statin?
- APOLLO User

Exercise

Weigh patients at every yearly visit and if their weight is up, even a little, get them on a daily exercise and weight loss program. It's easier to lose 2 pounds 50 times than 100 pounds once.

Paul D. Thompson, MD

EPC boost may underlie post-AMI statin benefits
Thursday, November 20, 2008 - Results from a small, exploratory study show that intensive statin treatment following acute myocardial infarction increases the concentration of circulating endothelial progenitor cells, but does not appear to significantly improve left ventricular function.
Serum lipids useful indicator of malnutrition and inflammation in the elderly
Thursday, November 20, 2008 - Measurements of serum lipids are useful markers of malnutrition and inflammation in elderly patients, show results published in the journal Nutrition.
Beneficial effect alcohol on lipids offset by increased BP in heavy drinkers
Thursday, November 20, 2008 - The beneficial effect of alcohol consumption on serum lipids is offset by increases in blood pressure in heavy drinkers, resulting in an overall increase in estimated 10-year coronary artery disease risk, report researchers.

Pulse pressure strongly predicts cardiac death in women
Thursday, November 20, 2008 - In women with suspected cardiovascular disease, brachial pulse pressure is a stronger predictor of poor outcome than other blood pressure components, study results demonstrate.
Increased heart rate ‘not an independent CV risk factor’
Thursday, November 20, 2008 - Increased heart rate is a marker for increased cardiovascular mortality rather than an independent cardiovascular risk factor, Norwegian researchers believe.
ICD algorithm detects lead fracture, prevents inappropriate shocks
Thursday, November 20, 2008 - Researchers have developed a downloadable algorithm to reduce inappropriate shocks in patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators.

Supported by educational grants from Abbott Laboratories, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP and Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc.

The Steering Committee