Rosuvastatin: efficacy, safety and clinical effectiveness.
BACKGROUND
Rosuvastatin is a fully synthetic statin developed by AstraZeneca. It is a competitive inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase.


OBJECTIVE
We reviewed the efficacy, characteristics, safety and clinical effectiveness of rosuvastatin.


METHODS
We conducted a Pubmed and Medline literature search (January 2000 to March 2008) to identify all papers on rosuvastatin published in English. Other relevant papers and textbooks from the author's personal collection were also used as references.


CONCLUSIONS
Rosuvastatin has a potent low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) lowering action. In addition it has potentially favourable effects on high-density lipoprotein (HDL), non-HDL-C, triglycerides and the apolipoprotein B : A1 ratio. Theoretically, if assumptions about these lipoprotein effects hold true and translate to better cardiovascular outcomes, rosuvastatin could prove to be the most clinically effective statin. However, while results from vascular imaging studies are encouraging overall, it is not clear whether these will translate into favourable cardiovascular outcomes because of lack of trial results. There are, as yet, no published mortality and cardiovascular outcome data from randomised, controlled trials to support LDL-C lowering with rosuvastatin rather than other statins. However, the early termination of one outcome trial has recently been announced because of clear benefits announced from rosuvastatin therapy compared with placebo.
Soran
Handrean
H
Central Manchester and Manchester Children University Hospital, Department of Endocrinology, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9WL, UK.
Durrington
Paul
P
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D005464:Fluorobenzenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D005464:Fluorobenzenes; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D008055:Lipids; D011743:Pyrimidines; D013449:Sulfonamides; D014280:Triglycerides; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium