Rosuvastatin: a high-potency HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor.
OBJECTIVE
To summarize the relevant pharmacologic, clinical, and safety data regarding rosuvastatin (Crestor--AstraZeneca), the most recently marketed 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor approved for the treatment of dyslipidemia.


METHODS
Medline search from years 1990 thru 2005 using the keywords HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, hypercholesterolemia, lipid-lowering agents, rosuvastatin, and statins.


METHODS
Review articles, clinical trials, case reports, abstracts, and data on file from the manufacturer concerning rosuvastatin and other statins were considered for inclusion.


METHODS
English-language studies were selected for inclusion.


RESULTS
Multiple clinical trials have revealed that use of rosuvastatin is associated with greater reductions in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) across the dose range of 5-40 mg/day than any other currently available statins. Rosuvastatin also significantly increases high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and reduces triglycerides significantly as well. In clinical trials, rosuvastatin was well tolerated, with a low incidence of adverse events and a safety profile similar to that of the other marketed statins. At present, no large-scale primary or secondary prevention clinical trials document either long-term safety of rosuvastatin or its effectiveness in preventing coronary events.


CONCLUSIONS
Compared with other statins, rosuvastatin offers the greatest lipid-lowering efficacy at the lowest dose in treating patients with dyslipidemia and with a similar safety profile over the short-term. Rosuvastatin may allow more patients to achieve their LDL-C goals than any other statin and at a lower dose than other agents.
Lopez
Larry M
LM
College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Box 100486, HSC, Gainesville, FL 32610-0486, USA. lopez@cop.ufl.edu
D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005464:Fluorobenzenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D005464:Fluorobenzenes; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011743:Pyrimidines; D013449:Sulfonamides; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium