Add-on ezetimibe treatment to low-dose statins vs medium-intensity statin monotherapy in coronary artery disease patients with poorly controlled dyslipidemia.

Although ezetimibe has potential value as an add-on therapy to statins, it is not established whether the addition of ezetimibe to statin therapy is more effective than double-dose statin monotherapy. We conducted a crossover design study. Twenty-one coronary artery disease (CAD) patients whose lipid profiles had not achieved Japanese guideline recommendations (JAS 2017), despite receiving low-dose statin therapy, were divided into two groups.

Clinical significance of blood brain natriuretic peptide level measurement in the detection of heart disease in untreated outpatients: comparison of electrocardiography, chest radiography and echocardiography.

The aim of present study was to compare the predictive characteristics and cost-benefit of measuring the concentration of blood brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), compared with electrocardiography (ECG), chest radiography and echocardiography, as a diagnostic test for heart disease. The study group comprised 130 untreated patients who had symptoms suggestive of heart disease. According to the results of additional examinations and follow-up checks, 86 patients were diagnosed as having heart disease and 44 patients were judged free of heart disease.