Optimal goals for statin use in patients with coronary artery disease

Purpose of review Coronary artery disease is the largest cause of premature death in the Western world. Lipid-lowering therapy with statins has revolutionized the management of this condition over the past decade. Recent developments Successive clinical trials have lowered the treatment bar for statin therapy in patients with coronary artery disease. In addition to traditional markers of efficacy such as low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, emerging targets such as C-reactive protein are becoming recognized as important therapeutic goals. Summary This review focuses on the important contributions to the literature during the past year and provides an expert opinion of the therapeutic goals for statin therapy.