Fluvastatin titrate-to-goal clinical practice study

The efficacy and safety of fluvastatin in patients with moderate hypercholesterolemia was evaluated in this open-label, multicenter trial. Patients whose cholesterol did not meet National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines after an 8-week dietary stabilization period underwent a 12-week treatment period. The study population was 1776 patients ranging in age from 18 to 75 years with an average low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level for two visits of 160 to 200 mg/dL. For all patients, the mean serum level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol showed a decrease of 21% between baseline and week 12 (177.8 +/- 19.0 to 141.0 +/- 22.7 mg/dL). Total cholesterol decreased 14% (263.3 +/- 24.3 to 224.2 +/- 12.9 mg/dL). Triglycerides decreased 14% (183.7 +/- 82.3 to 158.0 +/- 70.1 mg/dL). High-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels increased only slightly (49.7 +/- 12.1 to 51.8 +/- 12.9 mg/dL). Therapy with fluvastatin resulted in few adverse effects. No patient terminated the study prematurely because of laboratory abnormalities, although laboratory values of concern occurred in 0.3% of patients regarding serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and in 0.07% regarding creatine phosphokinase. Fluvastatin is confirmed as effective and safe for the treatment of moderate hypercholesterolemia in the general-practice patient.