Effect of cerivastatin on serum cholesterol levels in patients with type 2diabetes mellitus

The incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) is greatly increased in overw eight diabetic patients. Modification of dietary intake and weight loss imp rove hypercholesterolaemia. However, cholesterol goal levels are not achiev ed in several patients under this treatment. The aim of our study was to ev aluate the effect of Cerivastatin, an inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3 -methylgluta ryl coenzymeA reductase, in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. A popul ation of 40 diabetic type 2 outpatients were analyzed in a prospective way. The mean +/- SD age was 60.7 +/- 11.6 years, with a diabetes duration of 8 .5 +/- 6.6 years. All patients were treated with cerivastatin (0.2 mg once a day) for 6 months. Weight HbAlc fasting blood glucose, urine microalbumin uria, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides were measured at the begining of the study and again after 3 and 6 months of treatment with cerivastatin. An improvement in lipid levels was achieved , with a significant decrease in LDL-cholesterol (27.7%), total cholesterol (21.4%), triglycerides levels (10.4%) and a significant increase in HDL-ch olesterol levels (8.3%) (P < 0.05). Cardiovascular risk ratios such as; tot al cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol improved during treatment, decreasing 11.3% and 30%, respectively (P < 0.05). Low i ncidence of side effects was demonstrated. In summary, cerivastatin improve d lipid control in patients with type 2 diabetes, with a low incidence of s ide effects. (C) 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.