INTRODUCTION: Ezetimibe inhibits intestinal absorption of cholesterol and lowers circulating low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Visfatin is a novel adipokine, which may be implicated in the atherosclerotic process.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore the possible association between ezetimibe administration and serum visfatin concentrations.

METHODS: Patients (n = 30) with primary dyslipidemia and another 30 who failed to reach their assigned low-density lipoprotein cholesterol target on atorvastatin therapy (20 mg/day) were included in the study. All participants were given ezetimibe at 10 mg/day for 12 weeks.

RESULTS: At baseline the visfatin levels correlated significantly with the total cholesterol (r = 0.61 and p < 0.01) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (r = 0.51 and p < 0.01) levels in the statin pretreatment group. Furthermore, in the statin group the post-treatment levels of visfatin and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were significantly correlated (r = 0.57 and p < 0.01). The serum visfatin concentrations did not change significantly in either the monotherapy or statin pretreatment groups or in subgroups divided according to the baseline lipid variables. In both the ezetimibe monotherapy and ezetimibe plus atorvastatin groups the effect of ezetimibe on the lipid variables depended on the baseline lipid values. The low-density lipoprotein cholesterol:high density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio was consistently improved by ezetimibe in all groups or subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS: Ezetimibe did not alter serum visfatin concentrations, either when administered as monotherapy or combined with a statin. Future studies investigating the effect of ezetimibe on visfatin levels need to include groups of patients with distinct lipid characteristics.

NCBI