Efficacy of a low dose of pitavastatin compared with atorvastatin in primary hyperlipidemia: results of a 12-week, open label study.
BACKGROUND
Pitavastatin has a potent cholesterol-lowering action. The clinical efficacy and safety of a low dose, 1 mg, of pitavastatin were examined.


METHODS
The effect of 12 weeks' treatment with pitavastatin 1 mg in an open label, non-randomized trial involving 137 patients with hypercholesterolemia as compared with treatment with atorvastatin 10 mg.


RESULTS
Total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and triglyceride (TG) levels at baseline did not differ between the two groups. At follow-up, there were no significant differences in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol levels between the groups. The TG levels at follow-up were higher in the pitavastatin group than atorvastatin group (p < 0.01). In patients with hyperlipidemia type IIa, TG levels at follow-up were lower in the atorvastatin subgroup (p < 0.01). However, there was no significant difference in TG levels at follow-up between the two subgroups in patients with hyperlipidemia type IIb.


CONCLUSIONS
Pitavastatin 1 mg daily was safe and efficacious in reducing LDL cholesterol levels as compared with atorvastatin 10 mg daily. Further randomized comparative studies are needed to clarify the effect of a low dose of pitavastatin.
Yoshitomi
Yuji
Y
Miyauchi Makoto Memorial Clinic, 9-44 Isumi-cho, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-0037, Japan. ytommy@sage.ocn.ne.jp
Ishii
Toshikazu
T
Kaneki
Masashi
M
Tsujibayashi
Takashi
T
Sakurai
Shun-ichiro
S
Nagakura
Chieko
C
Miyauchi
Atsuyoshi
A
D000368:Aged; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006938:Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011804:Quinolines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D012449:Safety; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011758:Pyrroles; D011804:Quinolines; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; D000069059:Atorvastatin; C108475:pitavastatin