Ezetimibe reduces low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in renal transplant patients resistant to HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors.

Hyperlipidemia is common after renal transplantation. On the basis of current lipid guidelines, the majority of renal transplant recipients should have plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels <100 mg/dL. Even with statin (HMG-CoA [3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA] reductase inhibitor) therapy, a significant number of renal transplant recipients have LDL-C levels >100 mg/dL. We report that ezetimibe, a novel inhibitor of intestinal cholesterol absorption, was well tolerated and effectively reduced the LDL-C level to <100 mg/dL in our cohort of renal transplant recipients with persistently elevated LDL-C levels during treatment with maximally tolerated statin medications.