title: Meta-analysis of the comparative efficacy and safety of pitavastatin and atorvastatin in patients with dyslipidaemia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pitavastatin is the latest available statin. It has been shown to be effective in the treatment of dyslipidaemia. This meta-analysis was aimed at evaluating the effects of pitavastatin on lipid profiles in patients with dyslipidaemia compared with atorvastatin.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical trials were identified through electronic searches (MEDLINE, CINAHL, EBM review, and the Cochrane Library) up to January 2011 and historical searches of relevant articles. Studies were included in the meta-analysis if they were (i) randomized controlled trials that evaluated pitavastatin at the recommended dose vs. atorvastatin in patients with dyslipidaemia, (ii) lasting at least 6weeks, (iii) reporting total cholesterol (TC), LDL-C, HDL-C or triglyceride (TG) levels and (iv) published in English. Treatment effect was estimated with the mean difference in the per cent changes in lipid profiles from baseline to final assessment between pitavastatin and atorvastatin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven trials involving 1529 patients were included. Pitavastatin reduced LDL-C level as effectively as atorvastatin (mean difference 0.97%, 95% CI -0.48% to 2.42%). The reductions in TC and TG levels were also comparable between the two drugs. The mean differences were 1.22% (95% CI -0.55% to 2.99%) and 2.3% (95% CI -1.06% to 5.65%), respectively. However, HDL-C levels increased significantly more with pitavastatin than with atorvastatin (mean difference 1.78%, 95% CI 0.20-3.36%, P=0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pitavastatin was as effective as atorvastatin in lowering LDL-C, TC and TG levels. Pitavastatin was marginally superior to atorvastatin in increasing HDL-C levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Silpakorn University, Nakhon-Pathom, Thailand. nalinee@su.ac.th
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Poolsup
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Suksomboon
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wongyaowarat
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rungkanchananon
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Niyomrat
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kongsuwan
mesh_terms: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011804:Quinolines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D008055:Lipids; D011758:Pyrroles; D011804:Quinolines; D000069059:Atorvastatin; C108475:pitavastatin