The effect of gemfibrozil, niacin and cholestyramine combination therapy on metabolic syndrome in the Armed Forces Regression Study.

Introduction: Metabolic syndrome is a powerful predictor of cardiovascular events independent of overt diabetes. Dietary restriction and weight loss modify metabolic syndrome components. This study addresses whether combination pharmacologic therapy focused on dyslipidemia provides additional benefit.

Impact of increases in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol on cardiovascular outcomes during the armed forces regression study.

Introduction: high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is a well-established inverse risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The extent to which cardiovascular risk can be modified through changes in HDL, however, is less clear. We further examined the role of aggressive HDL raising therapy on cardiovascular outcomes in the 143 patients enrolled in the Armed Forces Regression Study (AFREGS).

Impact of fibrinogen levels on angiographic progression and 12-year survival in the armed forces regression study.

We assessed the role of fibrinogen levels on angiographic progression and long-term survival among 111 patients with coronary disease enrolled in the Armed Forces Regression Study (AFREGS). Baseline fibrinogen levels and quantitative coronary angiography were performed initially and at 30 months. Progression or nonregression of coronary disease was more prevalent in patients with high fibrinogen than patients with normal fibrinogen (66.

Effects of combination lipid therapy on coronary stenosis progression and clinical cardiovascular events in coronary disease patients with metabolic syndrome: a combined analysis of the Familial Atherosclerosis Treatment Study (FATS), the HDL-Atherosclerosis Treatment Study (HATS), and the Armed Forces Regression Study (AFREGS).

We examined the impact of metabolic syndrome (MS) on coronary stenosis progression and major cardiovascular (CV) events and investigated the mitigating effects of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol lowering and LDL cholesterol lowering plus high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol increasing. This analysis combined individual patient data from 445 subjects who participated in 3 double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trials (FATS, HATS, and AFREGS) comparing intensive lipid therapy to placebos on coronary stenosis progression by quantitative coronary angiography and on major CV events. The primary end points were change in mean proximal coronary diameter stenosis (Delta%S(prox)) over 3 years and the frequency of the predefined composite of coronary artery disease death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, stroke, and revascularization due to worsening ischemia.

A randomized trial of a strategy for increasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels: effects on progression of coronary heart disease and clinical events.

Background: The high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level is a strong predictor of cardiovascular events in epidemiologic studies. Until recently, it has been less extensively studied as a therapeutic target.

Objective: To assess the angiographic and clinical effects of a pharmacologic strategy to increase HDL cholesterol levels.