[Ongoing trials and future prospects].
Rosuvastatin is a new statin with a great number of pharmacological benefits related to the capacity of modifying favorably the lipid profile but also for the selective binding with 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, relative hydrophilic properties and selectivity for hepatic cells. Rosuvastatin demonstrated to be more efficacious in reducing LDL cholesterol levels than other statins and to be capable of increasing HDL cholesterol levels. It is well tolerated in a wide range of dosages maintaining its effectiveness. Many trials are ongoing with the aim to evaluate not only the efficacy of rosuvastatin in terms of surrogate endpoints but also in terms of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The usefulness of rosuvastatin will be evaluated also in selective patient populations affected by advanced renal disease or chronic heart failure. Two relevant research projects have been started recently, the GALAXY Programme, designed for evaluating the efficacy of rosuvastatin in atherosclerosis and ischemic heart disease and the GISSI-HF trial planned with the aim of testing the efficacy of this statin on morbidity and mortality in chronic heart failure and investigating the pharmacological effects on the pathophysiological mechanisms of heart failure.
Baldasseroni
Samuele
S
Centro Studi ANMCO, Via La Marmora, 34 50121 Firenze.
Fabbri
Gianna
G
Maggioni
Aldo Pietro
AP
D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000639:trends*; D005464:Fluorobenzenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D005464:Fluorobenzenes; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011743:Pyrimidines; D013449:Sulfonamides; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium