ezetimibe
Pronunciation: eh-ZET-ih-mybe
Cholesterol absorption inhibitor that blocks dietary and biliary cholesterol uptake in the small intestine.
Full Definition
Ezetimibe is a selective cholesterol absorption inhibitor that works by blocking the Niemann-Pick C1-Like 1 (NPC1L1) transporter in the brush border of the small intestine. This mechanism prevents the absorption of dietary and biliary cholesterol, leading to reduced cholesterol delivery to the liver and compensatory upregulation of cholesterol synthesis and LDL receptor expression. Ezetimibe is commonly used as monotherapy in statin-intolerant patients or as combination therapy with statins for patients requiring additional LDL cholesterol lowering. The IMPROVE-IT trial demonstrated cardiovascular outcome benefits when ezetimibe was added to simvastatin in post-acute coronary syndrome patients.
Usage
Usage note: Brand name Zetia should be capitalized; avoid confusion with similar-sounding medications.
In Context
- "The combination of atorvastatin and ezetimibe achieved the target LDL cholesterol level of less than 70 mg/dL." — Treatment plan
- "Ezetimibe monotherapy reduced LDL cholesterol by approximately 18% in this statin-intolerant population." — Clinical study report