title: Effects of statin on small dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and remnant-like particle cholesterol in heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The effects of statin on small dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (sd-LDL-C) and remnant-like particle cholesterol (RLP-C) levels in heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) have not been examined. This study aimed to clarify the effects of statin on sd-LDL-C and RLP-C levels in heterozygous FH.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventeen patients with heterozygous FH were randomly assigned to 2 mg/day pitavastatin or 10 mg/day atorvastatin. At baseline and 12 weeks after treatment with statin, we measured sd-LDL-C and RLP-C levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sd-LDL-C levels significantly decreased from 43 +/- 24 to 16 +/- 10 mg/dL (-63%, p=0.001) in the pitavastatin group, and from 44 +/- 17 to 19 +/- 10 mg/dL (-55%, p<0.001) in the atorvastatin group. RLP-C levels decreased from 8.4 +/- 2.8 to 6.6 +/- 2.7 mg/dL (-16%, p=0.156) in the pitava-statin group, and from 9.8 +/- 4.7 to 5.9 +/- 5.4 mg/dL (-45%, p=0.044) in the atorvastatin group. There were no significant differences in percent changes of sd-LDL-C (p=0.370) and RLP-C levels (p=0.097) between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sd-LDL-C measured by the heparin-magnesium precipitation method and RLP-C levels in heterozygous FH were decreased by 12 weeks of statin therapy. Statin might have additional anti-atherogenic effects by reducing not only LDL-C but also sd-LDL-C and RLP-C.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yokohama Sakae Kyosai Hospital, Federation of National Public Service Personnel Mutual Associations, Yokhohama, Japan. nozue2493@yahoo.co.jp
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nozue
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Michishita
authors.forename: Yasuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hirano
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000494:pharmacology; D011804:Quinolines / Q000494:pharmacology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D008074:Lipoproteins; D011758:Pyrroles; D011804:Quinolines; D014280:Triglycerides; C112017:remnant-like particle cholesterol; D002784:Cholesterol; D000069059:Atorvastatin; C108475:pitavastatin