title: Comparative study of acipimox and pravastatin in patients with combined hyperlipidemia.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the lipid-lowering effect of acipimox as compared to pravastatin in patients with combined hyperlipidemia. One hundred and six subjects, all males, aged 18-60 years, with total cholesterol (TC) > or = 200 mg/dl, TC/HDL-C ratio > or = 5, triglycerides (TG) > or = 200 and > or = 350 mg/dl were randomized to receive acipimox 250 mg thrice daily or pravastatin 20 mg once daily for 3 months, according to a double-blind, double-dummy design. After a 1-month wash-out period patients were crossed to the alternative regimen for further 3 months. Prior to and at the end of each treatment period, TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, TG, blood glucose, and fibrinogen were evaluated. Both acipimox and pravastatin significantly decreased TC, LDL-C, TC/HDL-C ratio and TG and increased HDL-C, without affecting plasma glucose. However, at the dosages employed in the study acipimox was more effective in reducing TG and increasing HDL-C levels, whereas pravastatin was more efficient in decreasing TC and LDL-C. There was no difference between the 2 treatments in their effects on TC/HDL-C ratio. Unlike pravastatin acipimox caused a slight but significant reduction in fibrinogen plasma levels. No serious adverse event was observed with either drug, but a major incidence of side-effects was reported during treatment with acipimox. Our findings suggest that, although both drugs at the standard dose employed in the study were effective in improving the lipid profile; in the treatment of combined hyperlipidemia acipimox might be preferable in the presence of more pronounced hypertriglyceridemia with low levels of HDL-C, whereas pravastatin might be more useful when hypercholesterolemia is predominant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fogari
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marasi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vanasia
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zoppi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lusardi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Preti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017035:Pravastatin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011719:Pyrazines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D008055:Lipids; D011719:Pyrazines; C027696:acipimox; D017035:Pravastatin