Abstract des Autors

Lipids play an important role for both development and therapy of atherosclerosis. Lipid lowering drugs do not only reduce accumulation of lipids in the arterial wall but also stabilize plaques and affect endothelial function favorably. To treat hypercholesterinemia statins are compounds of primary choice. lf combined hyperlipidemia is present fibrates may also be used. The aim of therapy depends on further risk factors and on the presence of coronary artery disease. There is no doubt that in patients with coronary heart disease statins reduce recurrence of myocardial infarction, clinical events, frequency of operative interventions and total mortality. In patients suffering from myocardial infarction without hypercholesterinemia and in hypercholesterinemic patients without myocardial infarction the application of lipid lowering drugs is also useful. Verf.-Referat