title: Open-label study to assess the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of fluvastatin versus bezafibrate for hypercholesterolemia.
abstract: Increased levels of total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) are associated with the development of coronary artery disease, which has become a worldwide public health problem. Clinical trials show that, in the long term, effective lowering of total cholesterol and raising of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) can slow atherosclerosis progression and reduce coronary artery disease risk. This study evaluated the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of fluvastatin versus bezafibrate (slow release) in patients with cholesterol > 241 mg/dL (6.2 mmol/liter) not responding to dietary treatment alone (cholesterol < 300 mg/day for 8 weeks). Patients were divided into 2 groups: group A (13 women, 7 men; mean age, 47.8 +/- 9.7 years; range, 30-70) received 40 mg fluvastatin once daily with their evening meal; group B (14 women, 6 men; mean age, 45 +/- 11 years, range, 25-68) received 400 mg bezafibrate once daily with either breakfast or their evening meal. After 12 weeks of treatment, the mean cholesterol decrease in group A was 27% (from 271 +/- 51.4 to 197.4 +/- 24.3 mg/dL; p < 0.001) versus 8% (from 278.6 +/- 33.2 to 255.8 +/- 20.3 mg/dL; p < 0.005) in group B. At the same time point, LDL-C was significantly decreased in group A (from 197.9 +/- 49 to 107.5 +/- 27.6 mg/dL; p < 0.001) but not in group B (from 181.6 +/- 39.6 to 173.3 +/- 24.3 mg/dL).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology Service, Hospital General de México, SSA, México, D.F.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fanghänel
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Espinosa
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Olivares
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morales
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Macías
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Valdés
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hernández
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001629:Bezafibrate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D000077340:Fluvastatin; D006801:Humans; D006903:Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007211:Indoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012449:Safety; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D007211:Indoles; D014280:Triglycerides; D000077340:Fluvastatin; D002784:Cholesterol; D006903:Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases; D001629:Bezafibrate