Efficacy of a Low Dose of Pitavastatin Compared with Atorvastatin in Primary Hyperlipidemia: Results of a 12-week, open label study

• Published in: Journal of Atherosclerosis and Thrombosis 2006, Vol.13(2), pp.108-113
• Main Authors: Yoshitomi, Yuji, Ishii, Toshikazu, Kaneki, Masashi, Tsujibayashi, Takashi, Sakurai, Shun-ichiro, Nagakura, Chieko, Miyauchi, Atsuyoshi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Atorvastatin; Cholesterol - blood; Cholesterol, HDL - blood; Cholesterol, LDL - blood; Female; Heptanoic Acids - administration & dosage; Heptanoic Acids - adverse effects; High-density lipoprotein cholesterol; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors - administration & dosage; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors - adverse effects; Hyperlipidemias - blood; Hyperlipidemias - drug therapy; Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II - blood; Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II - drug therapy; Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; Male; Middle Aged; Pyrroles - administration & dosage; Pyrroles - adverse effects; Quinolines - administration & dosage; Quinolines - adverse effects; Safety; Statin; Total cholesterol; Triglycerides; Triglycerides - blood
• ISSN: 1340-3478; 1880-3873
• DOI: 10.5551/jat.13.108

Background: Pitavastatin has a potent cholesterol-lowering action. The clinical efficacy and safety of a low dose, 1 mg, of pitavastatin were examined. Methods: The effect of 12 weeks’ treatment with pitavastatin 1 mg in an open label, non-randomized trial involving 137 patients with hypercholesterolemia as compared with treatment with atorvastatin 10 mg. Results: Total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and triglyceride (TG) levels at baseline did not differ between the two groups. At follow-up, there were no significant differences in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol levels between the groups. The TG levels at follow-up were higher in the pitavastatin group than atorvastatin group (p < 0.01). In patients with hyperlipidemia type IIa, TG levels at follow-up were lower in the atorvastatin subgroup (p < 0.01). However, there was no significant difference in TG levels at follow-up between the two subgroups in patients with hyperlipidemia type IIb. Conclusion: Pitavastatin 1 mg daily was safe and efficacious in reducing LDL cholesterol levels as compared with atorvastatin 10 mg daily. Further randomized comparative studies are needed to clarify the effect of a low dose of pitavastatin.