Adding Ezetimibe Tablet to Ongoing Treatment With Atorvastatin in Subjects With High Cholesterol and Multiple Coronary Heart Disease Risk Factors (Study P04060)(COMPLETED)

Inclusion criteria

• Participants must have an LDL-C concentration >= 3.3 mmol/L (130 mg/dL) to <= 4.9 mmol/L (190 mg/dL) using the Freidewald calculation.
• Participants must have triglyceride concentrations of < 3.99 mmol/L (350 mg/dL).
• Participants must have two or more coronary heart disease risk factors listed below:

• Current cigarette smoking
• Hypertension (BP >= 140/90 mmHg or on antihypertensive medication)
• Low HDL cholesterol (< 40 mg/dL)
• Family history of premature CHD (CHD in male first degree relative < 55 years; CHD in female first degree relative < 65 years)
• Age (Men >= 45 years; women >= 55 years)
• Participant must be currently taking atorvastatin 10 mg daily and by history has taken 80% of daily doses for the 6 weeks prior to participating.
• Participants must have liver transaminases (ALT, AST) < 50% above the upper limit of normal, with no active liver disease, and CK < 50% above the upper limit of normal.
• Participants must have maintained a cholesterol lowering diet, exercise program, and stable weight for at least 4 weeks prior to the study and be willing to continue the same diet and exercise program during the study.
• Women receiving hormonal therapy, including hormone replacement, any estrogen antagonist/agonist, or oral contraceptives, must have been maintained on a stable dose and regimen for at least 8 weeks and be willing to continue the same regimen for the duration of the study.

Exclusion criteria

• Participants who meet any of the following criteria will be excluded:
• Body mass index (BMI = weight [kg]/height**2[m]) is >= 30 Kg/m**2.
• Consume > 14 alcoholic drinks per week.
• Women who are pregnant or nursing.
• Congestive heart failure defined by NYHA as Class III or IV.
• Uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia.
• Coronary heart disease (CHD).
• Unstable or severe peripheral artery disease within 3 months of participating
• Uncontrolled hypertension (treated or untreated) with systolic blood pressure > 160 mm Hg or diastolic > 100 mm Hg.
• Type I or Type II diabetes mellitus.
• Secondary causes of hyperlipidemia, such as secondary hypercholesterolemia due to hypothyroidism.
• Impaired renal function (creatinine > 2.0 mg/dL) or nephrotic syndrome.
• Known HIV positive.
• Cancer within the past 5 years (except for successfully treated basal and squamous cell carcinomas).
• History of mental instability, drug/alcohol abuse within the past 5 years, or major psychiatric illness not adequately controlled and stable on pharmacotherapy.
• Participants who are on any of the following concomitant medications:
• Participants who are on medications that are potent inhibitors of CYP3A4, including cyclosporine, systemic itraconazole, fluconazole, and ketoconazole, erythromycin or clarithromycin, nefazodone, mibefradil, protease inhibitors and large amounts of grapefruit juice (> 1 quart/day).
• Participants who are on lipid-lowering agents (other atorvastatin): niacin (> 200 mg/day)
• Participants who are on over the counter lipid lowering agents such as fish oils, garlic and cholestin
• Participants who are on oral corticosteroids, unless used as replacement therapy for pituitary/adrenal disease and the subject is on a stable regimen for at least 6 weeks.
• Participants who are currently using psyllium, other fiber-based laxatives, and/or any other OTC therapy known to affect serum lipid levels (phytosterol margarine), and have not been on a stable regimen for at least 5 weeks and who do not agree to remain on this regimen throughout the study.
• Participant who are currently using orlistat or sibutramine.