Argentine Multicentric Study with Pravastatin in Primary Hypercholesterolemia

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Abstract

Background

The atherosclerosis is a multifactorial pathologyand hypercholesterolemia is one of the risk factors that can be modified. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of pravastatin (10 mg daily) in the treatment of primary hypercholesterolemia.

Method

Between July and December 1994, 564 patients were prospectively enrolled into the study. They had se-rum cholesterol levels higher than 240 mg/dl and serum triglycerides levels lower than 450 mg/dl (after performing a four week diet period). Pravastatin was administered at 10 mg daily during 8 weeks and serum lipid pattern was performed at the end of both4th and 8th week treatment. The safety was assessed by the measurement of the non-lipidic markers and the development of any side effect.

Results

There wasa statistically significant (p < 0.01) improvement on the serum lipid pattern at the end of both 4th and 8th week; total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides decreased and HDL cholesterol increased. Forty-two patients (7.4%) had side effects but only 17 of them (3%) abandoned the treatment for such reason. There were no significant changes on the non-lipidic markers.

Conclusions

Pravastatin (10 mg daily) was safe and effective in the treatment of primary hypercholesterolemia.