Comparison of the effect of two HMG CoA reductase inhibitors on LDL susceptibility to oxidation.
OBJECTIVE
To study the differences between fluvastatin and pravastatin regarding LDL susceptibility to oxidation, plasma levels of total cholesterol (TC), HDL-C, LDL-C and triglycerides (TG) in hypercholesterolemic patients with established coronary heart disease (CHD).


METHODS
A double-blind randomized parallel study was conducted that included 41 hypercholesterolemic outpatients with CHD treated at the Instituto de Cardiologia do Rio Grande do Sul. The inclusion criteria were LDL-C above 100 mg/dL and triglycerides below 400 mg/dL based on 2 measures. After 4 weeks on a low cholesterol diet, those patients that fullfilled the inclusion criteria were randomized into 2 groups: the fluvastatin group (fluvastatin 40 mg/day) and the pravastatin group (pravastatin 20 mg/day), for 24 weeks of treatment. LDL susceptibility to oxidation was analyzed with copper-induced production of conjugated dienes (Cu2+) and water-soluble free radical initiator azo-bis (2'-2'amidinopropanil) HCl (AAPH). Spectroscopy nuclear magnetic resonance was used for determination of lipids.


RESULTS
After 24 weeks of drug therapy, fluvastatin and pravastatin significantly reduced LDL susceptibility to oxidation as demonstrated by the reduced rate of oxidation (azo and Cu) and by prolonged azo-induced lag time (azo lag). The TC, LDL-C, and TG reduced significantly and HDL-C increased significantly. No differences between the drugs were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
In hypercholesterolemic patients with CHD, both fluvastatin and pravastatin reduced LDL susceptibility to oxidation.
Portal
Vera Lúcia
VL
Instituto de Cardiologia do Rio Grande do Sul/Fundaçao Universitária de Cardiologia, Pontifícia Univesidade Católica do RGS E Laboratório Weinmann, Porto Alegre, RS Brasil. pesquisa@cardnet.tche.br
Moriguchi
Emílio H
EH
Vieira
José  Luiz da Costa
J
Schio
Sadi
S
Mastalir
Eduardo T
ET
Buffé
Fabiana
F
Bortolini
Eleni Borges
EB
Brüch
Ricardo Santalucia
RS
Rodrigues
Rubem
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D000077340:Fluvastatin; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D007211:Indoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D017035:Pravastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000975:Antioxidants; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D007211:Indoles; D008055:Lipids; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D000077340:Fluvastatin; D017035:Pravastatin