title: Comparison of the efficacy of atorvastatin versus cerivastatin in primary hypercholesterolemia.
abstract: This 6-week Prospective, Randomized, Open-label Blinded End point (PROBE) study conducted at 12 sites in the United States compared the efficacy and safety of atorvastatin with cerivastatin. In all, 215 hypercholesterolemic patients (low-density lipoprotein [LDL] cholesterol > or = 160 mg/dl [4.14 mmol/L]; triglycerides < or = 400 mg/dl [4.52 mmol/L]) were randomized to receive either atorvastatin 10 mg once daily (n = 108) or cerivastatin 0.3 mg once daily (n = 107). Efficacy was assessed by measuring changes from baseline in LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, and triglycerides. Atorvastatin produced significantly greater (p < 0.0001) reductions from baseline to week 6 in LDL cholesterol (37.7% vs 30.2%), total cholesterol (27.5% vs 22.2%), and apolipoprotein B (28.6% vs 21.2%), and a significantly greater (p < 0.05) increase from baseline to week 6 in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (6.8% vs 4.3%) than cerivastatin. Atorvastatin treatment was also associated with a greater percent decrease from baseline to week 6 in triglycerides, with a trend toward statistical significance (p = 0.0982). The percentage of patients that achieved the National Cholesterol Education Program LDL cholesterol goal was greater for those receiving atorvastatin (73%) than for those receiving cerivastatin (66%). The proportion of patients experiencing drug-attributable adverse events, which were mostly mild to moderate and related to the digestive system, was significantly less (p < 0.05) with atorvastatin (5%) than with cerivastatin (14%) treatment. In conclusion, atorvastatin (10 mg/day) is more effective at lowering LDL cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic patients than cerivastatin (0.3 mg/day). Both atorvastatin and cerivastatin are well tolerated, with safety profiles similar to other members of the statin class.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hunninghake
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Insull
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Knopp
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lohrbauer
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kafonek
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011725:Pyridines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D011725:Pyridines; D011758:Pyrroles; D014280:Triglycerides; D000069059:Atorvastatin; C086276:cerivastatin