New drug introduced to check cholesterol

KARACHI  - New drug for cholesterol reduction called Ezetimibe has been found which prevents cholesterol absorption from the gut and, when combined with Statins, the “wonder drugâ€� causes a dramatic reduction in LDL cholesterol as it enabled to reach the target levels of LDL more effectively.
This was stated by Dr Mahmud Jilani, Professor of Medicine at Ziauddin University while speaking at the Continuing Medical Education Program held at Ziauddin University.
Explaining, he said, Dyslipidemia is an altered balance in the body of various lipid carrier particles called as lipoproteins; serve to transport lipids from one part of the body to another. The ‘good cholesterol’, which is the HDL and the ‘bad cholesterol’, which comprises of the LDL, VLDL, and the chlyomicrons are two categories of it.
He said that bad cholesterol increased concentration causes deposition of lipids in the blood vessels in various places throughout the body. This decreases the lumen of the blood vessel which in the event of a thrombosis, leads to severe or complete occlusion of the vessel.
Consequently, the tissue distal to the site of obstruction due to lack of oxygen, is unable to survive. This is particularly dangerous if it occurs in the heart or the brain causing heart attack or stroke. He recalled that in the 1990’s ‘wonder drugs’ called Statins and considered as ‘new spirins’ were discovered for the lowering of bad cholesterol LDL and elevating the good protective cholesterol HDL and said it caused significant reduction in death and disability from health attacks and stroke.