title: Long-term safety and efficacy of high-dose atorvastatin treatment in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia.
abstract: In the 2-year Atorvastatin versus Simvastatin on Atherosclerosis Progression extension study, patients with familial hypercholesterolemia who continued to take atorvastatin 80 mg for an additional 2 years had complete arrest of the progression of mean carotid intima-media thickness (0.89 mm at the start vs 0.90 mm at the end of the study, p = 0.58). In contrast, patients previously taking simvastatin 40 mg had significant regression of intima-media thickness (0.95 mm at the start vs 0.92 mm at the end of the study, p = 0.01). Therefore, both placebo- and statin-treated patients with familial hypercholesterolemia are best treated with high-dose atorvastatin, a therapeutic regimen that induces atherosclerosis regression and is safe and well tolerated over a 4-year period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam,The Netherlands. s.vanwissen@amc.uva.nl
authors.forename: Sanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: van Wissen
authors.forename: Tineke J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Smilde
authors.forename: Mieke D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Trip
authors.forename: Anton F H
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Stalenhoef
authors.forename: John J P
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Kastelein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006938:Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011758:Pyrroles; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; D000069059:Atorvastatin