Statins and treatment of diabetic hyperlipidemia

Type 2 diabetic patients show frequent lipid abnormalities characterized by increased triglyceride and decreased HDL-cholesterol levels, but also by q ualitative and metabolic abnormalities of all lipoproteins (VLDL, IDL, LDL et HDL). Treatment of diabetic hyperlipidemia is important in order to redu ce the incidence of cardiovascular events, which is-high in type 2 diabetes . Treatment with statins is recommended when hypercholesterolemia is associ ated with diabetes. But the efficacy of statins in the treatment of the typ ical diabetic hyperlipidemia (hypertriglycerideumia, decreased HDL-choleste rol) remains to be demonstrated, since their effects on triglycerides and H DL-cholesterol is moderate. However, the new statins (cerivastatine, atorva statine), which are more powerful to reduce hypertriglyceridemia could be u seful for the treatment of diabetic hyperlipidemia. But, only on going clin ical trials with statins in diabetic patients will be able to precise their possible efficacy on the prevention of cardiovascular disease.