2001 Volume 42 Issue 6 Pages 725-738
Lowering of serum cholesterol levels by pharmacologic intervention with statins reduces the incidence of cardiovascular events in subjects with and without atherosclerotic manifestations. In an 8-week, randomized, double-blind study we compared the efficacy and safety of the new compound atorvastatin for reducing LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) with placebo in an Asian patient cohort. Patients with LDL-C between 160 mg/dl and 250 mg/dl were randomly assigned to treatment with 10 mg atorvastatin or placebo once daily for 8 weeks. At the end of weeks 4 and 8 of the randomized phase, the serum concentrations of lipid parameters as well as safety parameters were determined. Fifty-four patients (32 males and 22 females) were enrolled. Twenty-six patients were assigned to the treatment group. The primary end-point, LDL-C, was reduced by 40% and 42% after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment in the atorvastatin treated patients (p<0.001). The reductions in total cholesterol and triglycerides were up to 31% and 23%, respectively. The HDL-C levels increased up to 11% (p=0.043). There were no significant adverse events. Transient increases in CPK levels (10 times) without myalgia were identified in 1 patient. Atorvastatin, 10 mg/day produced significant reductions in LDL-C, total cholesterol and triglycerides and an elevation of HDL-C levels when used as an adjunct to diet in hyperlipidemic patients. The majority of the clinical effects could be attained by week 4. The overall safety profile of atorvastatin was similar to that of placebo. Atorvastatin was considered to be well tolerated in this patient cohort.
