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Objective: This study assessed the effect of coadministration of ezetimibe and simvastatin on high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in a large subject cohort (N=1089)., Methods: Data were combined from two nearly identical prospective trials. After dietary stabilization, washout period, and placebo lead-in period, patients with baseline low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) > or =3.75-6.50 mmol/l and triglycerides (TG) < or =4.0 mmol/l were randomized to one of the following daily treatments for 12 weeks: ezetimibe 10 mg; simvastatin monotherapy (10, 20, 40, or 80 mg); ezetimibe 10mg plus simvastatin (10, 20, 40, or 80 mg); or placebo. The primary analysis was the percent change in hs-CRP for the pooled ezetimibe plus simvastatin versus simvastatin monotherapy cohorts., Results: Ezetimibe coadministered with simvastatin more than doubled the hs-CRP reduction compared to simvastatin monotherapy (-33.3% versus -14.3%, p<0.01). At each individual simvastatin dose level, coadministration therapy exerted significant further incremental hs-CRP reductions compared to simvastatin monotherapy. Similar hs-CRP reductions with coadministered ezetimibe and simvastatin were observed in the major subgroups examined (coronary heart disease, gender, age, baseline LDL-C, and body mass index)., Conclusion: In this large subject cohort, ezetimibe coadministered with simvastatin significantly reduced hs-CRP, suggesting a possible additional anti-inflammatory/anti-atherosclerotic action of combination therapy compared to simvastatin monotherapy.

This study assessed the effect of ezetimibe coadministered with simvastatin on high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia. After dietary stabilization, a 2- to 12-week washout period, and a 4-week, single-blind, placebo lead-in period, patients with baseline low-density lipoprotein cholesterol > or =145 and < or =250 mg/dl and triglycerides < or =350 mg/dl were randomized to one of these daily treatments for 12 consecutive weeks: ezetimibe 10 mg; simvastatin monotherapy (10, 20, 40, or 80 mg); ezetimibe 10 mg plus simvastatin (10, 20, 40, or 80 mg); or placebo. The primary analysis was the change in hs-CRP for the pooled ezetimibe plus simvastatin versus simvastatin monotherapy groups. Ezetimibe plus simvastatin significantly reduced median hs-CRP levels compared with simvastatin monotherapy (-34.8% vs -18.2%, p<0.01), and incremental reductions were observed at each simvastatin dose level. Combination therapy-induced significant changes in individual lipid parameters did not explain the observed decreases in hs-CRP. Thus, ezetimibe coadministered with simvastatin resulted in significant incremental decreases in hs-CRP, possibly consistent with an additional anti-inflammatory effect compared with simvastatin monotherapy.