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Most studies of statin therapy for reducing the risk for coronary atherosclerosis have focused on reducing LDL cholesterol and not on increasing HDL cholesterol, despite the known risk-reducing benefits of high HDL levels.
Cleveland Clinic investigators pooled data from four large trials to study the relation between LDL levels, HDL levels, and atheroma volume as measured by intravascular ultrasound. A total of 1455 patients (mean age, 58; 73% men) with coronary artery disease received high-dose statin therapy and were followed for 18 or 24 months with serial intravascular ultrasound. Mean LDL levels dropped from 124.0 to 87.5 mg/dL, mean HDL levels increased from 42.5 to 45.1 mg/dL, and the ratio of LDL to HDL decreased from 3.0 to 2.1. Med…