Emerging therapeutic strategies for the management of dyslipidemia in patients with the metabolic syndrome

The benefits of lipid-lowering therapy in significantly reducing cardiovascular events has been established in many at-risk populations. However, patients with the metabolic syndrome (MS) pose a challenge for clinical management. A high degree of residual risk exists in patients with the MS or diabetes mellitus, and this is of growing importance because of the increasing prevalence of obesity and its associated comorbidities in the world. As the MS has emerged as a major risk factor for both cardiovascular disease and diabetes, targeting treatment to achieve aggressive goals becomes paramount. This article reviews emerging therapeutic strategies for the management of dyslipidemia in patients with the MS. (C) 2004 by Excerpta Medica, Inc.