title: Comparative efficacy and tolerability of 5 and 10 mg simvastatin and 10 mg pravastatin in moderate primary hypercholesterolemia. Simvastatin Pravastatin European Study Group.
abstract: Simvastatin and pravastatin, two 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors, were compared in a multinational, randomized, double-blind trial. Patients demonstrating moderate hypercholesterolemia after 10 weeks on a lipid-lowering diet received 6 weeks of treatment with 5 mg/day simvastatin (n = 143) or 10 mg/day pravastatin (n = 138); the simvastatin dose was increased to 10 mg for an additional 6 weeks while the pravastatin dose remained at 10 mg. When administered at lower or equivalent daily doses, simvastatin was significantly more effective than pravastatin in reducing total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Reductions in plasma total and LDL cholesterol were significantly greater with 5 mg simvastatin (16 and 23%) compared to 10 mg pravastatin (12 and 18%; p < or = 0.01). The efficacy of 10 mg simvastatin in lowering these lipid parameters was also superior (19 vs. 11% and 27 vs. 17%, respectively; p < or = 0.01). At 6 and 12 weeks, a significantly higher percentage of simvastatin patients (45 and 59%, respectively) achieved a desirable LDL cholesterol level of < 130 mg/dl (< 3.4 mmol/l) compared to pravastatin patients (32-33%; p < or = 0.05). Both drugs were well tolerated and had comparable safety profiles.
authors.affiliation: Max-Bürger Hospital, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Steinhagen-Thiessen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017035:Pravastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D019821:Simvastatin
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D002784:Cholesterol; D008148:Lovastatin; D019821:Simvastatin; D017035:Pravastatin