Lipid-lowering update 2001. Aggressive new goals.

OBJECTIVE: To review the central role of cholesterol in coronary artery disease (CAD), underscore the need for identifying patients at high risk of CAD, and discuss treatment of dyslipidemias. QUALITY OF EVIDENCE: Current literature (1995-2000) was searched via MEDLINE using the MeSH headings "cholesterol," "risk reduction," and "statins." Recommendations in this paper are based mainly on the results of large randomized controlled trials. Preference was given to more recent articles, clinically relevant articles, and landmark clinical trials. MAIN MESSAGE: Lipid lowering, and specifically low-density lipoprotein lowering, has been repeatedly shown in large clinical trials to improve survival dramatically and reduce cardiac events in both primary and secondary prevention. Identifying those at highest risk for future cardiac events is critical because these patients will benefit most from aggressive modification of risk factors. The definition of high risk has been expanded to include patients with diabetes mellitus and peripheral vascular disease, as well as those with established CAD. A full lipid profile is required for these patients to assess risk and develop a lipid-lowering strategy with proven effectiveness. CONCLUSION: With the advent of powerful, efficacious, and well tolerated cholesterol-modifying therapies, lipid normalization should be a mandate for all physicians caring for patients with established CAD and patients at risk of developing CAD.

Human adjuvant disease revisited: a review of eleven post-augmentation mammoplasty patients.

OBJECTIVES: We have reviewed 11 women post-augmentation mammoplasty who were referred to our clinic with diffuse rheumatic complaints. All patients had undergone mammoplasty with silicone gel-filled implants prior to the onset of their locomotor symptoms (mean latency time 7.8 years). One physician interviewed and examined each of these patients following a standardized format for clinical retrieval. RESULTS: Of the patients reviewed, 6 patients had clinical fibromyalgia based on the ACR criteria, and the remaining 5 patients had symptoms consistent with the "chronic fatigue syndrome." None of our patients were found to have evidence of a defined connective tissue disease. Antinuclear antibodies were detected in 4 (36%) patients and low level titres of extractable nuclear antigens in only 2 (18%). CONCLUSIONS: Previously a causal relationship between the use of silicone gel-filled breast implants and the subsequent development of symptoms referred to as human adjuvant disease (HAD) has been proposed. On the basis of currently accepted criteria we have preferred to diagnose our post-mammoplasty patients without specific connective tissue disease, as having chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), or when tender points are present, as having fibromyalgia (FMS), rather than implying that such cases represent a separate and unique rheumatological disease entity. In the light of our current understanding of CFS and FMS, a relationship between them and the previous silicone mammoplasty seems possible.