Lipid-modifying effects of rosuvastatin in postmenopausal women with hypercholesterolemia who are receiving hormone replacement therapy.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of rosuvastatin in postmenopausal women with hypercholesterolemia who are receiving hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.


METHODS
After a 6-week dietary lead-in period, 135 postmenopausal women who had been taking a stable HRT regimen for at least 3 months were randomized to receive rosuvastatin 5 mg, 10 mg or placebo for 12 weeks. Fasting levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), and triglycerides (TG) were assessed at weeks 0, 2, 6, 10, and 12; apolipoprotein (Apo) B and Apo A-I were measured at weeks 0 and 12.


RESULTS
Rosuvastatin 5 mg and 10 mg significantly reduced LDL-C by 38% (SE = 2.1) and 49% (SE = 2.1), respectively, compared with placebo (1% [SE = 2.1]; p < 0.001). TC, TG, Apo B, and all lipid ratios examined (LDL-C/HDL-C, TC/HDL-C, non-HDL-C/HDL-C, and Apo B/Apo A-I) were also reduced significantly by both rosuvastatin doses (p < 0.001). HDL-C levels increased significantly in the rosuvastatin groups (11% and 8% for 5 mg and 10 mg, respectively, vs. -0.5% for placebo; p < 0.001), as did Apo A-I levels (p < 0.05). The combination of rosuvastatin plus HRT was well tolerated with no apparent differences among treatments in the numbers or types of adverse events reported.


CONCLUSIONS
Rosuvastatin 5 mg or 10 mg once daily is a well-tolerated and highly efficacious lipid-lowering therapy in postmenopausal women receiving HRT.
Shepherd
James
J
Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, Scotland, UK. jshepherd@gri-biochem.org.chem
Packard
Chris
C
Littlejohn
Thomas W
TW
Walker
James
J
Stein
Evan A
EA
Smith
Karen
K
Kallend
David
D
Blasetto
James W
JW
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005464:Fluorobenzenes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D017698:Postmenopause; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D005464:Fluorobenzenes; D008074:Lipoproteins; D010919:Placebos; D011743:Pyrimidines; D013449:Sulfonamides; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium