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 triglyceride-rich lipoproteins were evaluated in this multicenter trial. Following a 6-week baseline period, 47 patients with elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels were treated with atorvastatin 10 mg once daily (QD) for the initial 12 weeks (Period 1) increasing to 20 mg QD for the following 12 weeks (Period 2). At both the 10 and 20 mg doses, atorvastatin treatment resulted in significant reductions compared to pretreatment levels in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), apolipoprotein (apo) B, apoB in LDL (LDL-apo B), apo B in VLDL (VLDL-apo B), lipoprotein (Lp)B, lipoprotein B-complex (LpBc), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein triglycerides (LDL-TG), very low-density lipoprotein triglyceride (VLDL-TG), high-density lipoprotein triglycerides (HDL-TG), and apo C-III. Atorvastatin 10 and 20 mg QD also resulted in significant increases in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), apo AI, and LpAII:B:C:D:E. Due to its unique ability to normalize both cholesterol-rich and triglyceride-rich particles, atorvastatin is a promising candidate for monotherapy in a broad range of patients including those with varying degrees of hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia.