Rosuvastatin for the treatment of patients with hypercholesterolemia.
OBJECTIVE
To review the currently available information on rosuvastatin in the treatment of primary hypercholesterolemia.


METHODS
MEDLEY (2000-January 2001), MEDLIT, MEDLINE, EMBASE, SciSearch, Current Contents, Derwent, Drug, BIOSIS, Adis LMS Drug Alerts, and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (1994-July 2001) were searched; unpublished data obtained from the manufacturer were also included.


METHODS
Studies evaluating rosuvastatin including abstracts, proceedings, and data on file from the manufacturer were considered for inclusion. English-language literature was evaluated for pharmacology, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, therapeutic use, and adverse effects of rosuvastatin. Additional relevant citations were used in the introductory material and discussion section.


METHODS
English-language study abstracts selected for inclusion were limited to those on human subjects. Animal data were included only if human data were not available.


RESULTS
Resuvastatin, a new synthetic hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor (HMG-CoA RI), recently completed Phase III clinical trials. At a dosage of 1-80 mg/d, the drug significantly reduced total cholesterol and low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and produced beneficial effects on other lipid parameters as well. Overall, resuvastatin was well tolerated.


CONCLUSIONS
In hypercholesterolemic patients, rosuvastatin reduced LDL-C and other lipid parameters to a greater degree than currently available agents. One advantage of rosuvastatin is that it achieves target LDL-C goals in a greater proportion of treated patients with similar adverse events compared with those treated with other HMG-CoA RIs. The potential to reduce risk of coronary heart disease events and decrease mortality as well as cost comparisons with currently used HMG-CoA RIs remains a subject of further investigation.
Chong
Pang H
PH
Medical Cardiology and Lipid Clinic, Cook County Hospital, Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of Illinois at Chicago, IL, USA. cpang@tigger.cc.uic.edu
Yim
Barbara T
BT
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005464:Fluorobenzenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006938:Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium; D013449:Sulfonamides
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D005464:Fluorobenzenes; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011743:Pyrimidines; D013449:Sulfonamides; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium