Final answer:
Lipid-lowering agents, also known as statins, are contraindicated in patients with active liver disease due to the liver's impaired ability to process and eliminate the medication.
Step-by-step explanation:
Lipid-lowering agents, also known as statins, are medications that are used to lower cholesterol levels in the body. However, these medications are contraindicated in patients with active liver disease. This is because statins are metabolized in the liver, and liver disease can impair the liver's ability to process and eliminate the medication.
When a patient has active liver disease, the liver is already compromised and may not be able to handle the additional burden of metabolizing statins. This can result in further liver damage and worsen the liver disease.
If a patient with active liver disease has high cholesterol, alternative treatment options may be considered, such as diet and lifestyle modifications, or non-statin medications that have less impact on the liver.