Effects of pitavastatin on serum lipids and high sensitivity C-reactive protein in type 2 diabetic patients

Previous studies have been inconsistent results about the effects of statins on serum triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels. We therefore investigated the effects of pitavastatin on serum lipid profiles and hsCRP levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The study population was 65 Japanese type 2 diabetic patients who had been administered 2 mg daily of pitavastatin and completed a 6-month follow-up. Serum lipids and hsCRP were measured before and after treatment for 1, 3, and 6 months.

Total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and TG had significantly reduced after 1 month and remained reduced for 6 months, while HDL-C levels had significantly increased after 1 month and remained at the higher level for 6 months. Baseline median levels of hsCRP were 0.49 mg/L and showed a significant reduction to 0.37 mg/L at 6 months' treatment (p<0.001). Six-month changes in hsCRP levels were not associated with those in TC, LDL-C, HDL-C or TG.

Pitavastatin improved serum lipid profiles and reduced serum hsCRP levels in type 2 diabetic patients with relatively low inflammation. The effect on hsCRP was not related to the effects on serum lipid profiles.