Pitavastatin: A New HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor for the Treatment of Hypercholesterolemia
Cardiology in Review, 03/04/2011
Clinical Article
Ahmad H et al. – The pharmacologic and pharmacokinetic properties of pitavastatin are reviewed in this article. Its encouraging pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics would establish pitavastatin as a good alternative to other statins.
- Compared to other statins such as atorvastatin, simvastatin and pravastatin at specific doses, pitavastatin dosed at 1 to 4 mg daily showed similar efficacy in lowering low–density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL–C) and altering other lipid parameters.
- Pitavastatin demonstrated cholesterol–lowering efficacy in special populations such as the elderly, patients with diabetes, and patients with higher cardiovascular risk.
- Pitavastatin is minimally metabolized by the cytochrome P–450 isoenzymes and is associated with a lower frequency of drug–drug interactions.
- Beneficial effects, such as reductions of coronary plaque volume and fibrofatty composition have been observed with pitavastatin.
