EFFECT OF A NEW HMG-COA REDUCTASE INHIBITOR, ATORVASTATIN, ON LIPIDS,APOLIPOPROTEINS AND LIPOPROTEIN PARTICLES IN PATIENTS WITH ELEVATED SERUM-CHOLESTEROL AND TRIGLYCERIDE LEVELS

The effects of atorvastatin (lipitor) on cholesterol-rich and triglyce ride-rich lipoproteins were evaluated in this multicenter trial. Follo wing a 6-week baseline period, 47 patients with elevated cholesterol a nd triglyceride levels were treated with atorvastatin IO mg once daily (QD) for the initial 12 weeks (Period 1) increasing to 20 mg QD for t he following 12 weeks (Period 2). At both the 10 and 20 mg doses, ator vastatin treatment resulted in significant reductions compared to pret reatment levels in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), total cholesterol(TC), very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), ap olipoprotein (ape) B, apoB in LDL (LDL-apo B), apo B in VLDL (VLDL-apo B): lipoprotein (Lp)B: lipoprotein B-complex (LpB(c)), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein triglycerides (LDL-TG), very low-density lipoprotein triglyceride (VLDL-TG), high-density lipoprotein triglyce rides (HDL-TG), and apo C-III. Atorvastatin 10 and 20 mg QD also resul ted in significant increases in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( HDL-C), apo AI, and LpAII:B:C:D:E. Due to its unique ability to normal ize both cholesterol-rich and triglyceride-rich particles, atorvastati n is a promising candidate for monotherapy in a broad range of patient s including those with varying degrees of hypercholesterolemia and hyp ertriglyceridemia. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.