| Abstract | | The central role of LDL cholesterol in the pathophysiology of coronary heart disease has pushed therapy with statins, the the most effective cholesterol lowering drugs to date, to the forefront of the medical management of this condition. Recent clinical trials with statins and meta-analyses have shown that their clicinal benefit is related to the absolute reduction in LDL cholesterol and that compared to standard therapy, intensive statin therapy provides additional protection against acute ishemic cardiovasular events and coronary death in both stable and unstable coronary disease. However, new European guidelines for the prevention of cardiovascular disease still recommend that for patients with established cardiovascular disease the therapeutic goal of LDL cholesterol should be below 2.5 mmol/1; only for patients with very high risk, the optional limit is below 2.0 mmol/1 if this can be achieved with rational measures.
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