CLINICAL EFFICACY OF PRAVASTATIN FOR HYPERLIPIDEMIA IN PATIENTS WITH TYPE-2 DIABETES-MELLITUS

The efficacy of pravastatin (GAS 81131-70-6) on serum lipid levels in 91 type 2 diabetic patients with mean glycosylated hemoglobin of 8.5 % was investigated up to 12 weeks OI al administration of 10 to 20 mg/d of pravastatin significantly decreased total cholesterol by 18.4 +/- 1.5 % after 4 weeks. When analyzed separately in type IIa and IIb hype rlipidemia, the reduction of total cholesterol by pravastatin was more prominent in the former. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were als o significantly decreased 22.2 +/- 2.7 % after 4 weeks. The effect of pravastatin in reducing trigylceride was more prominent in patients wi th higher triglyceride ide compared to those with lower triglyceride b efore the administration of the drug. High-density lipoprotein cholest erol showed a slight but significant increase by 4.2 +/- 1.9% after 4 weeks. Among the apolipoproteins examined apolipoprotein B was signifi cantly decreased after 4 weeks. Atherogenic index and apolipoprotein B / apolipoprotein A-I ratio were also significantly decreased after 4 weeks. The efficacy of pravastatin was also observed after 12 weeks to the same extent as after 4 weeks No major side effects or abnormaliti es of laboratory parameters have been observed. These data lean to the conclusion that pravastatin is useful for the treatment of hyperlipid emia in type 2 diabetic patients with poor glycemic control without ma jor adverse effects.