title: The Kuopio Atherosclerosis Prevention Study (KAPS): effect of pravastatin treatment on lipids, oxidation resistance of lipoproteins, and atherosclerotic progression.
abstract: The Kuopio Atherosclerosis Prevention Study is the first population-based, double-blind trial in the primary prevention of carotid and femoral atherosclerosis. A total of 447 subjects with serum low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels > or = 155 mg/dl (> or = 4.0 mmol/liter) and total cholesterol levels < 290 mg/dl (< 7.5 mmol/liter) were randomly assigned to receive either pravastatin 40 mg/day or placebo for 3 years. Atherosclerotic progression in 424 men was assessed with B-mode ultrasonography. Pravastatin reduced the rate of progression by 45% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 16-69%, p = 0.005) in carotid arteries and by 66% (95% CI: 30-90%, p = 0.002) in the common carotid arteries. The treatment effect in the carotid arteries was greater in subjects with thick arterial walls at baseline, in smokers, and in subjects with low plasma alpha-tocopherol. Subjects who received pravastatin had a higher antioxidative capacity of LDL, a longer oxidation lag of very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) plus LDL, and a reduced oxidation rate of VLDL plus LDL in vitro. These data establish the antiatherogenic effect of lowering LDL cholesterol levels by pravastatin therapy in hypercholesterolemic men in a primary prevention setting and suggest that part of the antiatherogenic effect of pravastatin may be due to an improvement in the resistance of atherogenic lipoproteins to oxidation.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Public Health, University of Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Salonen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nyssönen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Porkkala-Sarataho
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Salonen
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005263:Femoral Artery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000378:metabolism; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D017035:Pravastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D008055:Lipids; D008074:Lipoproteins; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL; D014810:Vitamin E; D017035:Pravastatin