Role of statins in the management of dyslipidemia after cardiac transplant: randomized controlled trial comparing the efficacy and the safety of atorvastatin with pravastatin.
BACKGROUND
Cardiac transplant patients are at increased risk of dyslipidemia, a known pathogenetic factor in chronic rejection. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and the safety of treatment with atorvastatin (AT) and treatment with pravastatin (PV) in a population of dyslipidemic transplant patients.


METHODS
Thirty-nine transplant patients were randomized to receive a 4-month cycle of therapy with AT or PV, in a cross-over sequence. We analyzed the effects on their lipid profiles using Student t-test for paired data.


CONCLUSIONS
Atorvastatin was significantly more effective than PV in reducing total cholesterol (33% vs 21%, p < 0.001), LDL cholesterol (45% vs 30%, p = 0.001), and triglycerides (24% vs 7.7%, p < 0.001), at lower doses and with comparable tolerability and safety.
Institute of Cardiology, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
G
G
Magnani
V
V
Carinci
C
C
Magelli
L
L
Potena
L B
LB
Reggiani
A
A
Branzi
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017035:Pravastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D015415:Biomarkers; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011758:Pyrroles; D014280:Triglycerides; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D003402:Creatine Kinase; D017035:Pravastatin