Antilipemic agents

From WikiMD.org
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Antilipemic Agents

Antilipemic agents (pronunciation: an-ti-li-pe-mic a-gents) are a class of drugs used to help lower lipid levels in the blood. They are often prescribed to patients with high cholesterol levels to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Etymology

The term "antilipemic" is derived from the Greek words "anti" meaning against, and "lipid" meaning fat. Thus, antilipemic agents are drugs that act against fat in the blood.

Types of Antilipemic Agents

There are several types of antilipemic agents, each working in a different way to lower lipid levels in the blood. These include:

  • Statins: These are the most commonly prescribed antilipemic agents. They work by inhibiting the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase, which plays a crucial role in the production of cholesterol in the liver.
  • Bile Acid Sequestrants: These drugs work by binding to bile acids in the intestine, preventing their reabsorption. This forces the liver to use more cholesterol to produce more bile acids, thereby lowering the level of cholesterol in the blood.
  • Fibrates: These drugs work by reducing the production of triglycerides in the liver. They also help increase the uptake and elimination of triglyceride-rich particles from the blood.
  • Niacin: Also known as vitamin B3, niacin helps reduce the production of LDL (low-density lipoprotein) and increase the production of HDL (high-density lipoprotein).

Related Terms

  • Hyperlipidemia: A condition characterized by high levels of lipids in the blood.
  • Atherosclerosis: A disease in which plaque builds up inside the arteries, often as a result of high cholesterol levels.
  • Lipids: A group of fats and fat-like substances, including cholesterol and triglycerides.
  • Cholesterol: A waxy, fat-like substance that's found in all cells of the body.

External links

Esculaap.svg

This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.


Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski