EZETIB REDUCES TOTAL-C, LDL-C, APO B, AND TG, AND INCREASES HDL-C IN PATIENTS WITH HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA. ADMINISTRATION OF EZETIB WITH AN HMG-COA REDUCTASE INHIBITOR IS EFFECTIVE IN IMPROVING SERUM TOTAL-C, LDL-C, APO B, TG, AND HDL-C BEYOND EITHER TREATMENT ALONE. EZETIMIBE REDUCES BLOOD CHOLESTEROL BY INHIBITING THE ABSORPTION OF CHOLESTEROL BY THE SMALL INTESTINE. EZETIB HAD NO CLINICALLY MEANINGFUL EFFECT ON THE PLASMA CONCENTRATIONS OF THE FAT-SOLUBLE VITAMINS A, D, AND E (IN A STUDY OF 113 PATIENTS), AND DID NOT IMPAIR ADRENOCORTICAL STEROID HORMONE PRODUCTION (IN A STUDY OF 118 PATIENTS). EZETIMIBE LOCALIZES AND APPEARS TO ACT AT THE BRUSH BORDER OF THE SMALL INTESTINE AND INHIBITS THE ABSORPTION OF CHOLESTEROL, LEADING TO A DECREASE IN THE DELIVERY OF INTESTINAL CHOLESTEROL TO THE LIVER. THIS CAUSES A REDUCTION OF HEPATIC CHOLESTEROL STORES AND AN INCREASE IN CLEARANCE OF CHOLESTEROL FROM THE BLOOD; THIS DISTINCT MECHANISM IS COMPLEMENTARY TO THAT OF HMG-COA REDUCTASE INHIBITORS