title: Lipid modifying action of atorvastatin in comparison to combination of atorvastatin and nicotinic acid in patients with ischaemic heart disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The current study is a prospective, randomized controlled study with two parallel treatment groups done to assess the tolerability and efficacy of a combination of atorvastatin (10 mg) and extended release nicotinic acid (1G) in comparison to atorvastatin (20 mg) alone in modulating the lipid profile in patients of Ischemic Heart Disease in our population.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients were randomly allocated into two equal groups (n = 216) as per selection criteria. Group A received Atorvastatin 20 mg while Group B received combination of Atorvastatin -10 mg and extended release nicotinic acid (1G), both once daily at bed time, for a period of 24 weeks. Final end-of-study assessment and evaluation of tolerability and efficacy was done after 24 weeks. Comparison between the groups was performed with paired t-test. A p value < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. There was significant reduction in cholesterol, LDL & triglycerides in both the groups. Mean values of cholesterol and LDL were comparable in both groups where as there was increased reduction of triglycerides in Group B. Mean value of HDL cholesterol significantly increased only in group B thus the total cholesterol: HDL ratio was decreased more favorably. SGPT level was not significantly altered in either of the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the Indian perspective, where HDL is low and the LDL values are not very high, a combination of low dose atorvastatin with nicotinic acid may influence the lipid profile more favorably and reduce the cholesterol/HDL ratio in comparison to atorvastatin alone and is also fairly well tolerated.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Cardiology, Medical College, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Guha
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Santanu
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Suhrita
authors.forename: Soura
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mookerjee
authors.forename: Kundu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tania
authors.forename: Saha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mita
authors.forename: Ghosh
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pramit
authors.forename: Guha
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sharmila
authors.forename: Mandal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miraj
authors.forename: Majumder
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Debdutta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009525:Niacin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D011758:Pyrroles; D014280:Triglycerides; D009525:Niacin; D002784:Cholesterol; D000069059:Atorvastatin