title: Place of pitavastatin in the statin armamentarium: promising evidence for a role in diabetes mellitus.
abstract: Inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, known as statins, have revolutionized the treatment of hypercholesterolemia and coronary artery disease prevention. However, there are considerable issues regarding statin safety and further development of residual risk control, particularly for diabetic and metabolic syndrome patients. Pitavastatin is a potent statin with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol-lowering effects comparable to those of atorvastatin or rosuvastatin. Pitavastatin has a high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol raising effect, may improve insulin resistance, and has little influence on glucose metabolism. Considering these factors along with its unique pharmacokinetic properties, which suggest minimal drug-drug interaction, pitavastatin could provide an alternative treatment choice, especially in patients with glucose intolerance or diabetes mellitus. Many clinical trials are now underway to test the clinical efficacy of pitavastatin in various settings and are expected to provide further information.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kawai
authors.forename: Ryoko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sato-Ishida
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Motoyama
authors.forename: Kouji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kajinami
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000517:prevention & control; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D011804:Quinolines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011804:Quinolines; D005947:Glucose; C108475:pitavastatin